1. Feel better about yourself.
The decision to change is never easy. The pros and cons for doing so will occupy a lot of time at first. But once you commit to a decision to make a change, you will start to feel better about yourself. The fact that you’re taking proactive steps is reinforcement that only builds over time. When you start seeing improvement as a result of the actions you take, your mood lifts and your perspective changes. It’s no longer a corner you’re backed into, but a wide open path that beckons.
2. Regain your self-esteem.
Feeling like a failure is probably nothing new. After so much self-indulgence, ignoring the needs of others and pursuing only that which made you feel good at the time, your self-esteem is likely at an all-time low. Even being rich and successful doesn’t protect self-esteem when you constantly undermine it with unhealthy behavior. Yet rebuilding self-esteem is possible. It just takes time. As you commit to finding new and healthier ways of living, each step you take is one step closer to stronger self-esteem.
3. Be respected again.
Somewhere along the line, your word didn’t mean anything anymore. You couldn’t be counted on. You didn’t show up. People lost respect for you and you lost respect for yourself. Facing up to what you’ve done in the past is no easy task, but it is the first step on the road to changing your behavior today. If you want others to respect you, you have to demonstrate by your actions that you’re worthy of respect.
4. Reconnect with friends.
Feel that twinge of regret that you no longer spend time with friends you’ve known for a long time? While you were bent on pursuing your habit of choice, most of those friends didn’t fit in your selfish lifestyle. Whether you pushed them away or they chose to leave doesn’t change the reality that they’re gone. You can, however, take steps to rekindle friendships once you’ve made the break with your self-destructive vices and habits. If they’re true friends, they’ll welcome you back.
5. Mend important family relationships.
No doubt some of your errant behavior has wrought havoc in the family dynamic. It may have come to the point of complete estrangement. But your family is one of the most important elements in your life, so why would you walk away from that? Granted, it’s tough to mend fractured bonds, but it’s certainly worth every effort you make. Besides, once you’re no longer consumed by self-indulgent habits, you’ll have more time to focus on being with those who know you best and care about you most.
6. Remember what you did.
Memory loss is a damaging consequence of excessive drinking and certain drugs. Binge drinking often leads to blackouts, the inability to remember what you did when you wake up after a night of heavy drinking or drugging. Researchers now believe that cognitive impairment in longtime drinkers can improve after a year of abstinence. If you’re fed up with all the lost yesterdays, making the decision to change your ways can help ensure you can cherish the new memories you make.
7. Be inspired to change.
The more you get out of your self-absorbed bubble and rejoin the world, the more you will be exposed to opportunities to broaden and enrich your life. One success can be the spark that fans a blaze of inspiration to follow your dreams, pursue goals and be the best you can be. Instead of the inward-looking fixation on vices and bad habits, you’re ready to look outward and ahead.
8. Find joy in living.
Life is more than mere existence. At least it can be. Now that you’ve embarked on a journey of change, the reasons why you did so will continue to encourage you to keep moving forward. With renewed self-esteem, feeling better about yourself, enjoying newfound respect, reconnecting with friends and mending important relationships, you’re making exciting memories. You will find that the more you are open to new experiences, to learning and discovery, the more joy you’ll find in living.
Every day offers some new opportunity. Those bad habits you held onto for so long? They’ll have no claim over you now that you’ve embraced healthier behaviors, committed to live life in the present with zest and optimism, and opened yourself up to enriching relationships and growth experiences.
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from World of Psychology http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2016/07/22/8-healthy-reasons-to-ditch-your-bad-habits/
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