Let us say you are building or changing a habit. You want to meditate. Your intentions are right. Motivation is high. You have a defined goal.

Yet, things break down way too quickly.

If you want to prevent this from happening, let us break down why it occurs. More importantly, let us isolate the precise moment when it breaks down.

Failure happens in milliseconds, not hours or days.

You need the ability to be aware when failure is occurring. To tune in to your inner dialogue as it happens. To guide your mind and body to do what you truly wish.

When I first learned this, it sounded too esoteric. What I lacked was practice.

Habits break down in milliseconds, not hours or days.

Let us go back to your goal to meditate. There was that one moment during the day when you needed to practice meditation. You had set the reminder. Clothes prepped. Your Zafu was waiting.

For a brief second, doubt flashed in your mind—the briefest of moments.

What you said and did in that moment determined whether you built the habit or not.

But most people lack the ability to be self-aware. In real time to understand, evaluate, and then redirect their mind and body.

You get distracted. Many things pull your attention. You might even make a virtue of this distraction. But habits, whether good or bad, are going to affect the quality of your life, whether you like it or not.

Building the habits you want is a vital skill.

So how can you build it for yourself? Start with one habit. Don’t make success your goal. Instead, make learning your goal.

Learn how you process your thoughts and actions. Identify the critical points of failure. Understand what you say to yourself when failure happens. Write it down if you can.

Then rewrite what you know you should be saying. You are reprogramming your brain.

Slowly, the skill to build habits will come.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain