We may be holding ourselves back from our purpose if we refuse to give up certain habits. It’s crucial that we reflect on our behaviors, so we can identify which habits are impeding our progression and get rid of them. If we allow our inflexibility with those habits to keep us from changing them. The habits that we refuse to give-up will hold us back, just like a major habit did with Ms. Shirley.

Ms. Shirley

Several years ago, I was a health coach at a wellness corporation. I was speaking with a new member, Ms. Shirley, who was in her mid-50s. She was morbidly obese, and her health issues were hindering her life. During our initial conversation, I asked, "Ms. Shirley, how is it I can help you?"

"Well, Gene. I've been out of work a lot due to my health, and my employer is thinking about firing me. I went to the doctor to get a plan to improve my health, and he recommended that I join a wellness program with you. He wants me to lose at least 50 lbs, and he said that if I quit smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day, it would help the breathing issues that are causing me to miss work."

She Can't Breathe

"First off, Ms. Shirley, I want to commend you for taking steps to improve your health by joining this program. I'm also curious to know, are you going to take your Doctor's advice on your smoking as well?" "Most definitely not! Smoking helps with my stress, and I'm not giving it up no matter what anyone says."

"Ms. Shirley, you did mention that your breathing problems are keeping you from work. Do you think reducing your smoking will help you keep your job?" "No, Gene, exercising will. If I do some exercise, smoking won't be an issue." "Ma'am, it will be very difficult for you to breathe during exercise when you are smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. This habit that you are refusing to give-up, will continue to hold you back."

She Cursed Me Out

Ms. Shirley hurled a string of profanities at me after that statement, which I won't repeat in this story. Needless to say, I removed her from the program because I wasn't going to take her verbal abuse, and I knew her stubbornness not to change her habit was going to keep her in the same situation or worse.

Just like Ms. Shirley, is your stubbornness with a habit holding you back from achieving your goals and dreams? Are you refusing to give it up, so therefore, it's continuing to hold you back? If so, I want to encourage you to work towards giving up that habit, so you can realize your ambitions because YOU ARE WORTHY TO BE GREAT!