Have you ever set out with the goal of actually sticking to a new behavior … only to find yourself not doing it at all one week later? I know I have. Why is it so hard to form good habits? Why is it so difficult to make consistent change? How can we have the best intentions to become better, and yet still see so little progress? And most importantly, is there anything we can do about it? Your Life Goals are Not Your Habits Your audacious life goals are fabulous. We’re proud of you for having them. But it’s possible that those goals are designed to distract you from the thing that’s really frightening you—the shift in daily habits that would mean a re–invention of how you see yourself. The real reason that bad habits thrive is because they produce immediate reinforcement. Most good habits don't naturally provide immediate reinforcement. However, people can learn to create their own sources of reinforcement.