A simple way to break a bad habit

Here is an interesting Ted Talk by Judson Brewer. He talks about breaking bad habits by using mindfulness. He advocates a process of:

1. noticing the urge (to smoke or eat sweets, for example),
2. get curiously aware and notice what is happening in your mind and body,
3. feel the joy of letting go,
4. and repeat.

I find it interesting that he starts this talk by speaking of meditation and he implies that the process above is very similar to the process in meditation of:

1. notice your breathing,
2. get curiously aware and notice what is happening in this present moment,
3. if your mind wanders off bring it back to your breath,
4. and repeat.

I would also like to add that for those who are spiritually and prayerfully inclined, adding a prayer of forgiveness or release before repeating has been very helpful for many people.

Here’s the video. It’s a little less than 10 minutes long.