Most of us wish we could improve certain things about ourselves. Lasting change is difficult—many of our habits are deeply ingrained, and certain core personality attributes may be immutable. But many more things can be changed.

Habit Formation

Habit formation is the process by which new behaviors become automatic. If you instinctively reach for a cigarette the moment you wake up in the morning, you have a habit. By the same token, if you lace up your running shoes and hit the streets as soon as you get get home, you've acquired a habit. Old habits are hard to break and new habits are hard to form.