As adults, many of us recognize the need to change certain habits—whether it’s quitting smoking, adopting healthier eating habits, exercising regularly, or reducing time spent bingeing TV or scrolling through social media. But knowing we should change doesn’t make it any easier to actually do it.
You’ve probably experienced the frustration of trying to overhaul a habit, only to find yourself slipping back into old patterns. The reason for this isn’t simply a lack of willpower. The truth is, changing habits—especially those deeply ingrained over years or even decades—requires more than sheer determination. It involves rewiring your brain, addressing underlying beliefs, and often confronting emotional blocks that keep you stuck. This is where methods like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapy (CBH) can make a significant difference.
The Challenge of Changing Habits
So why is it so hard to change a habit, especially as an adult?
- Neural Pathways and Conditioning
Habits are essentially automatic behaviors, and they get “wired” into your brain through repeated action. Every time you engage in a habit—whether it’s lighting up a cigarette after a meal, reaching for a sugary snack when stressed, or mindlessly scrolling on your phone—your brain strengthens the neural pathways associated with that behavior. Over time, these pathways become well-worn, making it easier to perform the habit and harder to break it. The older you are, the more established these neural pathways become. - The Comfort of Familiarity
Habits provide comfort and predictability. Even if you know a habit is unhealthy, there’s often an emotional payoff that keeps you stuck. For example, smoking or eating junk food can be a way to manage stress, while binge-watching TV can be an escape from difficult emotions. Our brains love familiarity, and when we try to change these behaviors, it can feel unsettling or even threatening to the mind. - Underlying Beliefs and Emotional Blocks
Many habits are reinforced by limiting beliefs and emotional baggage. You might believe you’ll never be able to quit smoking because “you’re just not strong enough.” Or, you might have an ingrained belief that you “don’t deserve” to be healthy or successful. These subconscious beliefs often fly under the radar, but they can sabotage your efforts to change. - The Difficulty of Self-Control
Relying solely on willpower to change habits is like trying to swim upstream. Willpower is a finite resource; as your mental energy depletes throughout the day, it becomes harder to resist old habits. This is why you might start the day with good intentions to eat well and exercise but end up bingeing on comfort food or TV by evening.
How Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Can Help
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), often referred to as “tapping,” is a powerful tool for addressing the emotional and psychological blocks that keep you stuck in unhelpful habits. EFT combines elements of traditional Chinese medicine (acupressure) with modern psychology, allowing you to calm intense emotions quickly and to reevaluate the limiting beliefs that underpin your negative habits.
Here’s how EFT can help with changing habits:
- Releasing Emotional Triggers: EFT is particularly effective for addressing emotional triggers that lead to unhealthy behaviors. For example, if you turn to smoking or overeating when you’re stressed or anxious, tapping on specific acupressure points while acknowledging these emotions can help reduce their intensity. Over time, this can reduce the urge to engage in the behavior.
- Identifying and Shifting Limiting Beliefs: Through tapping, you can uncover and reframe limiting beliefs like “I’m not capable of quitting smoking” or “I’ll never be able to stick to an exercise routine.” By neutralizing these beliefs, you can start to feel more empowered to make lasting changes.
- Reducing Stress and Anxiety: Since stress is a major trigger for many habits (like emotional eating or social media overuse), EFT’s ability to reduce stress can help you respond to life’s challenges without reverting to old, unhealthy patterns.
How Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapy (CBH) Supports Lasting Change
While EFT helps to clear emotional and psychological roadblocks, Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapy (CBH) goes a step further by actively rewiring the brain for new habits. CBH combines cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a proven method for changing thought patterns—with the power of hypnosis to help you internalize new behaviors more quickly and effectively.
Here’s how CBH can help you break bad habits and build new, healthier ones:
- Breaking Conditioning: Many habits are formed through years of conditioning. For example, you might associate smoking with relaxation, or snacking with a reward after a long day. In a hypnotherapy session, your mind becomes more receptive to suggestions, allowing you to break these conditioned associations. Instead of automatically reaching for a cigarette or a snack, you’ll be able to pause, reflect, and choose a different response.
- Reprogramming Your Subconscious Mind: Hypnosis allows you to bypass the conscious mind and access the subconscious, where your automatic behaviors and beliefs are stored. With CBH, you can reprogram your mind to adopt new, healthier behaviors. For instance, you can develop a new association where exercising feels rewarding and enjoyable, rather than a chore.
- Strengthening New Habits: Habits take time to form, but CBH can accelerate the process. During hypnosis, you can visualize yourself successfully practicing new habits, like choosing healthy foods, exercising regularly, or managing stress without social media. This mental rehearsal strengthens the new neural pathways you need for long-term success.
- Overcoming Willpower Fatigue: Instead of relying solely on willpower, CBH helps you change from the inside out. By addressing the root causes of your habits—whether they’re emotional, psychological, or behavioral—you won’t need to rely on self-control as much, making it easier to stick to your goals.
Combining EFT and CBH for Lasting Change
While EFT helps you release the emotional blocks and limiting beliefs tied to your habits, CBH helps you rewire your brain for lasting transformation. Together, these two approaches offer a holistic, fast-acting solution for breaking bad habits and building new, healthier ones.
Instead of battling against your brain’s wiring or wrestling with emotional triggers, you can clear away what’s holding you back and reprogram yourself for success. This combination allows you to make faster, more effective progress than relying on willpower alone.
If you’re struggling to quit smoking, improve your diet, start exercising regularly, or curb your time spent bingeing on TV or social media, consider exploring EFT and CBH. With the right tools and support, lasting change is not only possible—it’s within reach.
By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you can finally break free from the habits that have held you back and step into a healthier, more empowered version of yourself.
