How to Break One's Self of Bad Habits.
UNDERSTAND clearly the reasons, and all the reasons, why the habit is injurious. Study the subject until there is no lingering doubt in your mind. Avoid the places, the persons, and the thoughts, that lead to temptation. We are responsible even for our thoughts. Frequent the places, associate with the persons, indulge the thoughts, that lead away from temptation. Keep busy; idleness is the strength of bad habits. Do not give up the struggle when you have broken your resolution once, twice, ten times, a thousand times. While there is life there is hope, and that only shows how much need there is to strive. When you have broken your resolution through lack of firmness and moral sense, just think the matter over, and endeavor to understand why it was you failed, so that you may be on your guard against recurrences of the same circumstances. Do not think it a little or an easy thing that you have undertaken. It is folly to expect to break off a habit in a day which may have been gathering strength in you for years. Be manly, be brave. Learn to say, No, and to stick to it.