

If it made them feel sick, they also stored the memory away and learned not to eat it again. If it gave them energy and made their stomachs feel better, they stored the memory away of what the source was and where it was located so they could return to it the next time their stomachs growled. When they were hungry, they’d see something that looked appealing, so they’d eat it. To live, they had to find food and avoid danger. When humans were first wandering around on this earth, they were primarily concerned about one thing: survival. This ancient section of the brain is responsible for basic survival instincts and learning processes. Habits allow people to move through modern-day life efficiently, but habit formation is rooted in ancient evolutionary mechanisms in the brain. All of these behaviors can be deeply ingrained in your brain’s neurological wiring, which means that even though they aren’t natural responses, people often have a difficult time changing them. How many of the behaviors did you engage in did you have to think about, and how many were automatic? You may be in the habit of eating a Poptart every morning, fastening your seatbelt when you get in the car, or going to the gym three days a week after work. Try to retrace your steps from the moment you became consciously aware this morning. You get through every day by utilizing countless habits, many of which you might not be aware of. Sometimes, you set about to create a habit, but frequently they develop without you even knowing it. What Is a Habit?Ī habit is simply a behavior that has become automatic. It relates to a brain process that can produce positive or negative results, depending on the outcomes. The word in and of itself isn’t a good or bad thing. The word habit often has a negative connotation because people tend to associate the word with negative behaviors.
