--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However, to modify a habit, you must…" description: "\"However, to modify a habit, you must decide to change it. You must consiously accept the hard work of identifying the cues and rewards that drive the h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/charles-duhigg-1088_accepting_however-to-modify-a-habit-you-must-decid_181761.png" --- # However, to modify a habit, you must decide to change it… ![“However, to modify a habit, you must decide to change it. You must consiously accept the hard work of identifying the cues and rewards that drive the habits' routines, and find alternatives. You must know you have control and be self-conscious enough to use it -- and every chapter in this book is…” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/charles-duhigg-1088_accepting_however-to-modify-a-habit-you-must-decid_181761.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/charles-duhigg-1088_accepting_however-to-modify-a-habit-you-must-decid_181761.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/422/charles-duhigg-1088_accepting_however-to-modify-a-habit-you-must-decid_181761.png) > “However, to modify a habit, you must decide to change it. You must consiously accept the hard work of identifying the cues and rewards that drive the habits' routines, and find alternatives. You must know you have control and be self-conscious enough to use it -- and every chapter in this book is devoted to illustrating a different aspect of why that control is real.” [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing a habit requires conscious decision, recognizing its triggers and rewards, and deliberately replacing them while acknowledging personal control. **In simple terms:** Habit change needs awareness of cues, rewards, and intentional alternatives. Key Takeaway Identify triggers, replace rewards, act with control. Themes habit formation self‑control behavior change psychology personal development Mood determined reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - wellness - productivity - stress management Key Concepts cue‑reward loop self‑efficacy mindful practice Questions to Reflect On - What cue most often drives your unwanted habit? - How can you reward yourself for the new behavior? A Different Perspective Habit change can be hindered by deep‑seated routines and lack of immediate reinforcement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Aspect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspect/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Control Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-self-607405/) [Devoted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devoted/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-decide-1942725/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Habits Routines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits-routines-1103004/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Identifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identifying/) [Illustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illustrating/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Modify Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modify-habit-1942724/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-conscious/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [“Every habit, no matter its complexity, is malleable... ...however, to modify a habit, you must decide to change it. You must consciously accept the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/every-habit-no-matter-its-complexity-is-malleable-however-to-modify-a/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [People do not decide their feature first they decide their habit then habit decide their feature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-do-not-decide-their-feature-first-they-decide-their-habit-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Such decisions ab extra\* are sometimes a wonderful relief to those whose habit it has been to decide, not only for themselves, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/such-decisions-ab-extra-are-sometimes-a-wonderful-relief-to-those/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [The secret to being alone is to organize your time; to develop habits and routines and gradually elevate their importance to where they seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-clowes/the-secret-to-being-alone-is-to-organize-your-time-to-develop-habits/) [Daniel Clowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-clowes/) > [“Good spiritual habits and routines turn into better lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-penland/good-spiritual-habits-and-routines-turn-into-better-lives/) [Amanda Penland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-penland/) > [If one develops good habits and routines, it is possible to be a responsible educator most of the time; and to marshal the special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/if-one-develops-good-habits-and-routines-it-is-possible-to-be-a/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [We all fall into our habits, our routines, our ruts. They're used quite often, consciously or unconsciously, to avoid living, to avoid doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-stanton/we-all-fall-into-our-habits-our-routines-our-ruts-they-re-used-quite/) [Andrew Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-stanton/) > [“3. The Next Step in the Mental Training. In the next place we have to strive to be the master of our bodies. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/3-the-next-step-in-the-mental-training-in-the-next-place-we-have-to/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [Self-respect takes self-control, self-control takes practice, and practice takes determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-stubbs/self-respect-takes-self-control-self-control-takes-practice-and/) [Martin Stubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-stubbs/) > [“Our fundamental tactic of self-protection, self-control, and self-definition is not spinning webs or building dams, but telling stories, and more particularly connecting and controlling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/our-fundamental-tactic-of-self-protection-self-control-and-self/) [Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-c-dennett/) > [Distortions control my self-image, like they do for a lot of us. It's irrational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/distortions-control-my-self-image-like-they-do-for-a-lot-of-us-it-s/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Now, there is something else interesting here, is this thing called self-determinism and pan-determinism. We have found that there is something stands as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/now-there-is-something-else-interesting-here-is-this-thing-called/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [The greatest form of power is the power to control one's self not the power to control others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-form-of-power-is-the-power-to-control-one-s-self-not-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Still, there’s a limit to how much we can control our self-presentation. This is partly because of a phenomenon called behavioral leakage, in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/still-there-s-a-limit-to-how-much-we-can-control-our-self/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Here is the paradox of Christian living. We must give up control of self to gain self control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-mineo/here-is-the-paradox-of-christian-living-we-must-give-up-control-of/) [Andy Mineo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-mineo/) ## More by Charles Duhigg > [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) [Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "However, to modify a habit, you must decide to change it. You must consiously accept the hard work of identifying the cues and rewards that drive the habits' routines, and find alternatives. 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