Beat bad habits like nail-biting and hair-twirling with new book The A-Z Guide To Common Habits, says Christine McPherson
We are all prone to annoying everyday habits like biting our nails and playing with our hair, and usually don’t give it too much thought. But Reiki Master and transformational counsellor Ann Gadd believes that releasing ourselves from these habits allows us to live more satisfying lives.
Ann, who lives in South Africa, explains: “We create expectations from our lives from our own life experiences. When these expectations are not met, we become disappointed and this creates stress, which we relieve by performing certain habits. As an alternative practitioner, I see every day how the subtle non-physical aspects of ourselves affect our physical bodies. After many years of treating clients, I am still amazed by this relationship between the physical and the non-physical, and how understanding the true nature of our behaviour can bring about significant positive change and empowerment. The need to indulge in our physical habits is removed if we work towards removing the thoughts and emotions.”
In her new book The A-Z Guide To Common Habits, Ann attempts to explain why we do the things we do – from drawing the same image when we doodle, to checking that the car door is locked at least twice, and even the relevance of our sleeping positions.
Alongside each habit, the former advertising executive identifies the emotional circumstances or patterns of thinking which trigger our stress, and provides a positive affirmation to help eradicate these negative thoughts. She goes on: “The purpose of affirmations is to reprogramme the subconscious. The more you can bypass the conscious mind, the more effective the reprogramming of the subconscious will be. This is why it’s best to repeat the phrase often, to the point of it becoming a sort of mantra. You can even make a tape of the repeated affirmation and play it to yourself while sleeping.”
Ann is, however, keen to make a clear distinction between everyday habits and the condition Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She points out: “We can define a habit as a repeated automatic response to a specific situation. It is a practice we do regularly and that we find difficult to give up. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) also involves habitual behaviour but differs in its cause and extent. OCD may involve obsessive thoughts that are compounded by disturbing thoughts and images. OCD is found in only two to three per cent of the population and usually starts in early adulthood. Commonly, recurring thoughts or impulses create extreme levels of anxiety and stress.’’ And, she adds: “It is important to distinguish between the habit of checking a few times that your front door is locked and behaviour that reaches such debilitating extremes that it is impossible to work and maintain a normal lifestyle. OCD may involve a ritual or habit, but because of its compulsive aspect, it requires professional intervention.’’
The A-Z Guide To Common Habits by Ann Gadd is published by Findhorn Press www.findhornpress.com
