Habits. That word often conjures up negative associations. Likely, because it brings to mind the bad habits you’ve acquired and want to be rid of… Vices, if you will. But, let’s not forget to think about the power of a good habit. How, with lots of practice and repetition, you can become skilled at complex behaviors. Your mind and body work together to establish patterns, which over time, make even the most complicated tasks easier.

What if we could tap into that power? Could you learn a new language? Play the guitar? Write a book? Exercise more regularly? Could you transform your life?

Charles Duhigg (@cduhigg on Twitter), an investigative reporter for The New York Times, wrote an entertaining and enlightening book to explore that notion –- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.

First thing to note about this book: it’s not a self-help book. The Power of Habit dives into the topics of social psychology, clinical psychology and neuroscience. It uncovers real stories of successful leaders like Starbucks CEO Howard Shultz, former NFL coach Tony Dungy, civil-rights icon Rosa Parks, and how they channeled the power of habits.

In the simplest terms: Charles Duhigg’s book demonstrates how habits work — the equation containing cue, routine behavior and reward. You can read The Power of Habit, in the hopes that by studying and understanding habits, you can better create the ones you want.

A first step, Duhigg says, is belief. Believe that change is possible. – Meredith

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Meredith is Associate Creative Director at Half Price Books Corporate.
You can follow her on Twitter at @msquare21.