Habits work through what is know as the HABIT LOOP
- The Trigger/Cue: something internal or external that causes a reaction, feeling, or emotion.
- Routine: the action you CHOOSE as your reaction: getting angry, smoking, fighting, eating, crying, drinking...
- Reward: the pleasure chemicals are released in the brain for successfully completing a routine. Because the habit loop is rewarded, it is reinforced and becomes stronger.
Once you realize this process, you can CHOOSE a different reaction, or ROUTINE to respond to a trigger. Instead of yelling, take a deep breath and decide how you CHOOSE to react. That new routine will then be rewarded and strengthened.
