Breaking Bad Habits 1/3 by Marlene Legaspi-Munar http://www.febc.ph/stations/dzas/protips/index.html     Laging late sa appointment. Returning on time things that are borrowed. Not saying “thank you” for a favor done to you. Picking your nose in public. Greeting someone you meet with a warm smile. Maagang pagtulog at maaga ring paggising. Araw-araw na pagbabasa ng Bibliya. These are all habits. Can you identify the good habits from the bad habits?   A habit is an established practice, tendency, or manner of behavior. Ang habit ay isang gawi o kilos na laging ginagawa ng isang tao. We acquire habits or particular kinds of behavior by constant repetition. At dahil paulit-ulit mong ginagawa, madalas ginagawa mo ito nang hindi mo namamalayan at walang kahirap-hirap. Habits are important because they can affect the course of your career and life in general. Ayon nga sa isang kasabihan: “Sow a thought, reap a deed; Sow a deed, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a personality; Sow a personality, reap a destiny.” Dahil dito, dapat sinusuri natin ang ating mga habits. So, are your habits good, or bad?   Remember that bad habits can be reflected in your personal hygiene, in your relationship with others, and in your work ethics. Remember also that these three areas—personal hygiene, interpersonal relationship, and work ethics—are key areas that could help you succeed in your chosen career or vocation. Hindi kasi sapat na may technical know-how ka or mataas ang IQ mo. Imagine, you could fail in a job interview because of a distracting mannerism and sloppy outfit. Or you could also offend and lose a potential client dahil na-late ka ng isang oras sa usapan nyo.   Aside from insulting, hurting, shocking other people, and inhibiting your own growth, you also displease God with your bad habits. Minsan, ipinagwawalang bahala natin ang ating mga bad habits. We dismiss a bad habit as a simple weakness or vice. But in truth, bad habits are a violation of God’s good laws. Halimbawa, kasama sa Sampung Utos ng Diyos ang “Huwag kang magsisinungaling.” But some people makes a habit out of telling a lie, and consider it even as necessary. Others are in the habit of smoking, drinking, staying up too late, and other practices that are destructive to the body. Hindi ba ayon sa Bible, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that we should take care of it? Bad habits displease God. It’s a violation of His good laws. Often, it’s a disregard for yourself, for other people, and for God. That’s why bad habits can be considered as sinful habits.   But the good news is that, with God’s help, bad habits can be broken and replaced with good ones. God made us for good works. He will enable us to live good lives, at kasama dun ang pagkakaroon ng mga good habits. The promise of God is that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. It’s a good habit to say goodbye, kaya magpapaalam muna ko but tune in tomorrow para sa pagpapatuloy ng ating serye on Breaking Bad Habits. SHIELA S. VILLAMOR Coastal Resource Management Program City Agriculture Office, City Hall 5800 Roxas City, Capiz, PHILIPPINES Telephone: +63 36 6215918 | Fax: +63 36 6212049 | Mobile: +639207076063