Self-Control & The Power To Make & Break Habits

By Randy Young

This book is designed to help the reader acquire the knowledge and skills to learn how to make new habits to replace old habits. The reader will learn about "super habits", and why old habits never really die. More importantly, the reader will learn the key to building new habits and maintaining these new habits. This book discusses how to maintain awareness using a very special habit to avoid the pitfall of relapse. The reader will also become acquainted with the value of rewards or reinforcers in the acquisition and maintenance of new habits. Examples help the reader understand key concepts. This book also helps readers understand how various addictions can be viewed and understood as habits. Simple steps help the reader understand how to exercise the power and self-control to make and break habits.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Randy Young
• Release date: Apr 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311369437

Randy Young

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Randy Young was born and raised in the Midwest region of the U.S.A. After high school the author worked a variety of jobs before getting married, having a family and pursuing his A.A., B.A., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the areas of human services, sociology, psychology, and training and learning. The author spent nearly 35 years working in the areas of mental health and substance abuse treatment. During this time Randy worked in nursing, social work, psychology and administration, and also enjoyed teaching as a college instructor. His primary life work has been dedicated to helping individuals learn to help themselves. In his semi-retirement Randy has enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and friends while pursuing activities he loves such as camping, fishing, vacationing, reading and writing. During his years of employment Randy spent considerable time reading and writing in the capacity of his work for a professional clinical audience. Now it is the author’s desire to apply his love of helping others and writing to a broader audience of readers.

Book preview

SELF-CONTROL & THE POWER

TO MAKE & BREAK HABITS

By RANDY YOUNG

COPYRIGHT 2018

All Rights Reserved

No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or sold in any manner without explicit written permission by the author.

Authored, Designed, Illustrated, Manufactured and Published in the United States of America by Randy Young

Smashwords Edition

DEDICATION

TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE RESEARCH AND WRITING OF THIS BOOK.

INTRODUCTION

Why write about habits? After over three decades working in the fields of nursing, social work and psychology with mental health and substance abuse clients, I came to understand that our habits comprise the essence of our everyday lives, and are the prime determinant of our quality of life. I realized that much of my life had been spent helping individuals change and/or replace habits that caused much interference and difficulty in their lives ranging from physical and psychological health issues to relationship, financial, vocational and a myriad of other significant problems. Therefore, it struck me as worthwhile to attempt to share what experience has taught me about habits in the hope someone will benefit.

In this book we will define, exemplify and explore habits. We will look at the range of habits from the simple and mundane to the super habits that have lasting profound effects on our lives, such as the various addictions. We will look at how habits are maintained and strengthened. We will discuss not only the negative habits that influence our lives, but how we can implement new positive habits that can have profound life-changing consequences.

As a final caveat to readers it should be known that this book is not intended as