Habits and Goals

Perhaps I'll wait a day or two on the alcohol post.
I agree with Dr. Sheehan when he said he did his best thinking when he was out on an easy run.
This thought popped into my head while I was running earlier today--one man's bad habit is another man's addiction.So, that got me thinking about habits.
Yesterday I was looking at the necessity of goal setting and later while reading I came across an article by the late American psychologist William James. It concerned developing habits. We of course must develop good habits if we are to achieve our goals. Developing habits requires some degree of effort and discipline initially. With habits, as they become a part of our life and being, they require less conscious effort in continuing them.
William James said that in acquiring a new habit or in breaking an old one there are four important things to do:
"1.Make the motives for acquiring the habit so worthwhile and so strong that you cannot afford to let your will power break down, since every day that such a breakdown is postponed adds just that much to your chances of success."
My take on that is you must believe in the worthiness of the habit and goal to put in the effort. Do you really want what you say you want? Too many people like to be titillated  by reading articles and literature about changing and success but when it comes time to do the "work" they fall away only to later pick up the next related book. Why do you think there are so many articles and books on success, changing your life, losing weight and achieving your goals?
"2. Never allow anything to create an exception in the formation of your new habit, until the habit is firmly rooted in your daily life. The real secret of acquiring a habit is to condition the nervous system by regularity of action; hence one exception breaks the chain of that regularity and means starting all over again."
Persistence is the key to success.
"3.Start putting the new habit into practice at the very first moment possible. A habit is not formed by thinking about it; action alone counts."
What's the old saying?--"if wishes were horses beggars would ride."
As I once said on my 'to run is to live' blog---a comeback never sounder sweeter and easier than after a few beers. Get real and commit!
"4.Keep alive the ability to form a habit by doing a little something extra each day toward the original habit or an entirely new one. This exercise strengthens the will power and guarantees against a lapse into your former mental inertia."
In other words--keep your eye on the prize(goal).
On a related note I'll finish with this story---I met an author one time who told me that when he first met with his publisher he was told that they only publish a few of the kind of books he writes. This author said to himself, "why can't it be my books then?" That's the kind of attitude we all need!
Ran earlier for half an hour, mixed in several strideouts. Did calisthenics and stretching.
What are you doing today?