No one is perfect. We all make mistakes.
But when a person decides to repeat the same mistakes again and again, then they have become bad habits. There are certain bad habits that are more toxic than the others. These bad habits can dull the great qualities of the originally smart talents.
If you are a smart talent, please make sure not to let these 8 habits ruin your success.
(1) Always Looking for the Easy Way Out
It’s easy for smart people to see many ways to move along their paths. Although they usually can identify the right way quickly, they may not always wish to walk down the path.
Before you make a decision, always ask yourself if this is the most suitable way at this moment. More importantly, before you turn away from any possible option, always ask yourself if this is really not the better option.
Yes, there are always reasons not to do something. But is it a valid reason? For example, there is indeed no such thing called too late, too tired, too busy, etc. Those are the “excuses” driven by a lack of motivation, determination, and inspiration. If you believe it’s important, you would have made an effort to get it done.
The next time when you feel too tired to go to the gym, or too busy to spend time with your family, or too hard to explain a solution to a stubborn boss, think again how your “yes” response may help you or the others.
Please try not to put a blocker in front of the path to behave as the best version of yourself.
(2) Obsessively Wanting to Change Someone Else
There’s a difference between giving caring advice and obsessively getting. You may have seen this habit happen all the time. It really happens very often. In fact, many people may have done it unknowingly. In most situations, the person doing it is out of kindness, thinking it will be better if everything is in their preferred way.
For example, a partner worries about the other on the smoking and drinking habits, prohibiting the other to do all these at home. It sounds logical, but it’s an unfruitful action. It’s also an unhealthy relationship to continuously try to change someone else into what they ideally want.
Yes, that “change” is really better, but trying to force someone into the mould will not make the person truly transform. You can give advice, share your experience, offer mental support, etc. Yet you dictate what the other person should act. Usually, there’s a reason for the behaviour, such as pressure from work, or friend’s influence. Try to be encouraging, and try to be there more often for the other person. You can show the other person what’s good, but don’t keep going. Otherwise, you will only make the other person become repulsive or pretending in front of you. In fact, love and patience are more likely to help this other person open to change and ready for it.
(3) Trying to Fit In
“Which group do I belong to?”
“What types of friends should I blend in with?”
Has any of these similar questions come across your mind before?
In fact, many people are consistently seeking for the group they belong. Sometimes, these people try so hard to find the common traits that they start to pretend to have these traits, because of their wish to fit in. Besides that, smart people sometimes also wish to fit in because of their eagerness in showing off their smartness. Yet what they may not realize is that fitting-in may seem to look smart in the beginning, but a truly successful smart talent is usually a leader and thus, doesn’t act like someone else. If you spend so much time and efforts to fit in, you may look smart, but you are no longer using your brain in creating a better you.
It’s not easy to be different from others, but it’s happier to be who you are, instead of what others want to see. And now you can spend more brain power to further develop your skills and broaden your talents. Which approach is truly smarter?
(4) Comparing Yourself to Others
This is the most common habit everyone has…
Since we are young, we start to look at other’s people and unknowingly continuously compare to different people for their successes, lifestyles, careers, academic accomplishments, etc. This is also quite common among Asian families: The parents tend to have habits of constantly telling their children how their children are in comparison to the others, thinking it’s a good way to motivate the children to be more competitive. Yes, they may become competitive, but many of them lose their own passion.
In fact, the only person you should compare to is yourself. Compare who you are today to who you are last year. Why? Think about it this way. We all have different experiences, different talents, different circumstances etc. If we compare ourselves to other people, it’s like comparing an apple with a watermelon. It’s not a fair comparison, and thus, it’s a good motivation standard. Focus on your strength and find your passion. Write down your target and break down in small goals. Review this list on a regular basis and do the true comparison – “Yourself Yesterday” vs “Yourself Today”.
For the Next 4 Toxic Habits, please Click Here to Visit the Part 2 of this Article.
With love,
Cecilia Or
Always Remember W.H.Y.
Be Well, Be Happy, Be You
