Bad habits within good habits

Developing good habits can sometimes lead to developing bad ones within the same space. When that happens the proverb is true:

“One bad apple spoils the barrel.”

For example, a quiet and reserved person may want to learn to be more social. If the person decides that she can achieve this by talking more but forgets to listen, her new social skills won’t be worth much.

The same goes for the person who wants to pick up boxing. If he focuses all of his efforts on learning how to throw really good punches but develops the bad habit of dropping his guard during every punch, he won’t last long in the ring.

It’s important for us to avoid developing bad habits while developing good ones. We’ve all done it though. That’s why we must identify and refine, then identify and refine some more, then do it again and again and again until we master it.