By BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA
You probably belong to the school of thought that would love to feel comforted by the myth that ‘age naturally corrects personal flaws’. I’m sorry to disappoint you, it doesn’t.
After an over 10 years of character development research and training, creating solutions for people and organisations across countries, I can pointedly submit to you that one thing habits do best is ‘stick’, until a different action is intentionally applied.
Habits are patterns capable of sponsoring positive or negative personal character. Habit formation is the surest way to put your life on an auto pilot mode for good or bad.
Whether you formed them consciously or unconsciously, they are capable of consistently producing good or bad results, depending on their feeds.
Do you realise that habits are so important to your goal-getting drives this year? If good, they support your life, goals and relationships; but if bad, they slowly but surely destroy the same.
As Stephen R. Covey wisely noted, “Habits are powerful forces in our lives, they shape our character and our effectiveness.”
Research in behavioural psychology consistently shows that habits, once formed, tend to persist unless deliberately disrupted.
The truth is that time passes, but your habits persist unless you change them.
For instance, a study cited by American Psychological Association suggests that nearly 40–50% of our daily actions are habitual, not intentional. That means without a conscious effort, you simply age into your patterns not out of them.
Consider these:
*Reports from AARP indicate that over 70% of older adults maintain the same financial behaviours they had decades earlier.
*Similarly, insights published in Psychology Today highlight that procrastination and avoidance patterns often remain stable well into later life.
Here’s the truth to chew on: age gives you experience, not transformation. If anything, age amplifies what is already a habit for you.
So the real question isn’t: “Will time change me?” but “Am I intentionally changing what time is reinforcing?”
If you don’t confront your habits now, you won’t outgrow them, you will simply carry them forward, stronger and more established. I call that the mouse to monster effect!
In his words, Dr. David Oyedepo said, “Whatever you won’t confront has a right to remain. Whatever you don’t want, you don’t watch!”
In part two of this series next Tuesday, I will discuss how to become self aware of your habits and commence a self mastery journey for a greater shot at life. If you need a guide book with extensive support in taking care of your weaknesses that may be funding your bad habits, get my book titled: ‘Your Weakness is Not a Verdict’ on selar or call the number on the column for booking.
Remember, old habits don’t retire as you grow older, they refire!
I wish you better results in this second quarter of the year. Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of your week!
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