Think about the basic elements of habits.
Habits are a learned behaviour tending to operate outside of our conscious awareness.
Habit involves the repetition of this learned behaviour and the more you repeat this behaviour the more it reinforces itself leading to a continual habitual cycle.
Once a habit is established any attempt to stop it or alter it meets with resistance.
Resistance to change is a normal human response.
We are all aware of our own comfort zone and find change challenging.
Obviously a lot of positive habitual behaviour is necessary for our survival and well being in our world today, however negative habits which destroy our health, block our growth and create conflict are undesirable.
Many clients when they first see me tell me they wish they had more willpower, in order to change their habits.
I tell them willpower involves resistance and trying to fight the habit. To illustrate this, I ask them to think of a time when they have had an itch they were not supposed to scratch. Can they remember the more they tell themselves that they must not scratch that itch, whatever they do they must not scratch it ,the more powerful their need to scratch that itch becomes.
If I tell you now not to think of a pink elephant…what comes to mind. Because in order not to think of a pink elephant you have to access in your mind an image of a pick elephant so you can follow my suggestions,not to think of a pink elephant.
Willpower is redundant when you learn to trust and utilise the power of your unconscious mind.
This is why hypnosis and neuro linguistic programming are so effective in helping you change for the better and overcome negative habits.