Master Your Habits. Lead a Life of Purpose
Breaking Free from the Chains of the Past
The Tyranny of Impulses and the Rise of Habits

Og Mandino’s profound observation that “As a child I was a slave to my impulses: now I am a slave to my Habits, as are all grown men and women” speaks to a fundamental truth of human existence. In our youth, we are driven by immediate desires and reactions, our choices dictated by the whim of the moment.

As we mature, these impulses, if left unchecked, coalesce into deeply ingrained habits. These habits, often formed unconsciously, become the unseen masters of our lives. They dictate our routines, our responses, and our very identities.

The Path Marked by Past Deeds

Mandino further elaborates, “I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumulated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to imprison my future.” This is a stark reminder of how our past actions, through the formation of habits, can inadvertently limit our future potential.

The paths we’ve walked, the choices we’ve made repeatedly, create grooves that become increasingly difficult to deviate from. It can feel as though our future is predetermined, a direct consequence of the habits we’ve allowed to dictate our course.

Reclaiming Your Free Will and Redirecting Your Path

The good news is that this perceived imprisonment is not absolute. While our habits hold significant sway, they are not an insurmountable force. The key to changing this direction lies in the very concept that birthed these habits: repetition and conscious choice.

First, awareness is paramount. Just as we became aware of our impulses as children, we must now become aware of our ingrained habits. This involves honest self-reflection. What actions do you repeat daily without conscious thought? Are they serving your highest good, or are they hindering your progress?

Once identified, the process of change begins with conscious, deliberate action. This is where free will re-enters the equation. Choose one habit you wish to change. Instead of succumbing to the old pattern, consciously choose a new, more beneficial action. This will feel unnatural, even difficult at first, as it goes against the established neural pathways.

Consistency is your most powerful ally. Just as past deeds and repeated actions forged your current habits, consistent, deliberate new actions will forge new ones. This requires patience and perseverance.

There will be moments of backsliding, but it is crucial to not let these setbacks define your progress. Each conscious choice to act differently strengthens the new habit and weakens the old.

Consider adopting the principles of habit stacking, where you link a new desired habit to an existing one. For example, if you want to meditate, you might decide to meditate for five minutes immediately after brushing your teeth. This leverages the momentum of an established habit to build a new one.

Ultimately, the freedom Mandino speaks of is not the absence of habits, but the mastery over them. By consciously choosing and consistently practicing new behaviors, we can rewrite the script of our lives, transforming ourselves from slaves to our habits into architects of our own destiny.