--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to change old habits is like…" description: "\"“Trying to change old habits is like fighting a war in your head—a draining and exhausting skirmish that makes you wonder at your chance of survival.”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/richelle-e-goodrich-180_changing_trying-to-change-old-habits-is-like-figh_2804881.jpg" --- # Trying to change old habits is like fighting a war in your… ![“Trying to change old habits is like fighting a war in your head—a draining and exhausting skirmish that makes you wonder at your chance of survival.” quote by Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/richelle-e-goodrich-180_changing_trying-to-change-old-habits-is-like-figh_2804881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/richelle-e-goodrich-180_changing_trying-to-change-old-habits-is-like-figh_2804881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/959/richelle-e-goodrich-180_changing_trying-to-change-old-habits-is-like-figh_2804881.jpg) > ““Trying to change old habits is like fighting a war in your head—a draining and exhausting skirmish that makes you wonder at your chance of survival.”” [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing entrenched habits feels like an exhausting mental battle, challenging survival instincts. **In simple terms:** Habit change is a mental war. Key Takeaway Approach habit change mindfully. Themes habit change mental struggle survival Mood determined reflective Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - coaching - mindfulness training - habit tracking Key Concepts Neuroscience behavioral psychology resilience Questions to Reflect On - What mental strategies aid habit change? - How can you sustain motivation during setbacks? A Different Perspective Progress can be slow and discouraging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Old habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-habits/) [Resolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolutions/) [Richelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle/) [Richelle-goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/richelle-goodrich/) [Trying to change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-to-change/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [You know, making a movie's like fighting a war - you've got to roll with the punches. You've got to make your battle plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/you-know-making-a-movie-s-like-fighting-a-war-you-ve-got-to-roll-with/) [Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/) > [When it comes to breaking old habits and starting new ones, remember to be patient with yourself. If you've spent twenty, thirty, or forty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/when-it-comes-to-breaking-old-habits-and-starting-new-ones-remember/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [New Year's resolutions are pointless to cause most people only stick to them for about a month and then go back to their old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/new-year-s-resolutions-are-pointless-to-cause-most-people-only-stick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A lot of times we set ourselves up to fail. It's interesting. A lot of times the resolutions we choose are the ones, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/a-lot-of-times-we-set-ourselves-up-to-fail-it-s-interesting-a-lot-of/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [But can one still make resolutions when one is over forty? I live according to twenty-year-old habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/but-can-one-still-make-resolutions-when-one-is-over-forty-i-live/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“Past and Present I know well; each is a friend and sometimes an enemy to me. But it is the quiet, beckoning Future, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/past-and-present-i-know-well-each-is-a-friend-and-sometimes-an-enemy/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Doing nothing accomplishes nothing, gains nothing, changes nothing, and wins nothing. You have to make a move.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/doing-nothing-accomplishes-nothing-gains-nothing-changes-nothing-and/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“My goals may seem impossibly far-fetched when really they're not. Break them down into steps and see how I accomplish great things. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/my-goals-may-seem-impossibly-far-fetched-when-really-they-re-not/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“It was the price of fighting a war during peacetime”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-w-lemoine/it-was-the-price-of-fighting-a-war-during-peacetime/) C.W. Lemoine > [The Sandinista government became consumed with fighting a war of survival. They were up against the biggest superpower in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-jagger/the-sandinista-government-became-consumed-with-fighting-a-war-of/) [Bianca Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-jagger/) > [“Then he remembered Ralph's words--"no point in fighting your war over and over until you get it right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/then-he-remembered-ralph-s-words-no-point-in-fighting-your-war-over/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [We desire peace. However, if imperialism insists on fighting a war, we will have no alternative but to take the firm resolution to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/we-desire-peace-however-if-imperialism-insists-on-fighting-a-war-we/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [“In our society, we've become content with fighting against things. Fighting against cancer, fighting against poverty, fighting against war, fighting against drugs, fighting against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/in-our-society-we-ve-become-content-with-fighting-against-things/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [“We are fighting a war on load times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/we-are-fighting-a-war-on-load-times/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [To get an Army that's already fighting a war to change in stride to a total different military strategy on the ground - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-keane/to-get-an-army-that-s-already-fighting-a-war-to-change-in-stride-to-a/) [Jack Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-keane/) ## More by Richelle E. Goodrich > [“Truth is, I’m generally happiest when it’s just me. It’s okay to be madly in love with yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/truth-is-i-m-generally-happiest-when-it-s-just-me-it-s-okay-to-be/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/as-ofttimes-as-it-rains-on-my-little-spot-of-earth-you-d-think-i-d/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“ Happily-ever-afters don't come in happily-every-days . They are found at the end of challenges-ever-met, promises-ever-kept, and tears-ever-wept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/happily-ever-afters-don-t-come-in-happily-every-days-they-are-found/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“A session of boasting won't attract any real friends.  It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/a-session-of-boasting-won-t-attract-any-real-friends-it-will-set-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Memories of past. Heartaches of old. Courage of brass. Lessons of gold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/memories-of-past-heartaches-of-old-courage-of-brass-lessons-of-gold/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Mystery, why so attractive to me? You blind me with fear, place hope on my tongue, and with a cold kiss draw me forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/mystery-why-so-attractive-to-me-you-blind-me-with-fear-place-hope-on/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“It's amusing to me that we refer to people who live in their heads as detached, disturbed, or mad, when reality for anyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-s-amusing-to-me-that-we-refer-to-people-who-live-in-their-heads-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Such a nasty bruise,” he says, staring straight into my eyes. I am stunned he can see it. Delicate to the touch and tender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/such-a-nasty-bruise-he-says-staring-straight-into-my-eyes-i-am/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“You made a choice—a single choice. How neat to think you may have opened the door to a wondrous future without knowing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-made-a-choice-a-single-choice-how-neat-to-think-you-may-have/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“The key to valuing something is to lose it and then realize how rare it was—after which you pray like mad to regain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-key-to-valuing-something-is-to-lose-it-and-then-realize-how-rare/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Rather than critique people, try admiring God’s creative handiwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/rather-than-critique-people-try-admiring-god-s-creative-handiwork/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) [Explore all 987 Richelle E. Goodrich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) ## More Changing quotes > [“The game is changing' .. :The game is the same, the stakes are rising.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/the-game-is-changing-the-game-is-the-same-the-stakes-are-rising/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [“No one ever changed the world waking up at noon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-chalfant/no-one-ever-changed-the-world-waking-up-at-noon/) [Connor Chalfant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-chalfant/) > [Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/progress-should-mean-that-we-are-always-changing-the-world-to-fit-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-is-not-just-changing-the-things-outside-of-us-first-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [I approach fashion as an evolution. It's always changing. As you know, sometimes it changes in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-approach-fashion-as-an-evolution-it-s-always-changing-as-you-know/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [When I come home from work, if I just played a really good game and I'm on top of the world, I think changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/when-i-come-home-from-work-if-i-just-played-a-really-good-game-and-i/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [It's not about changing--it's about growing, together," he said, like the wise soul that he was. 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There's a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-reyes/as-i-feel-this-life-growing-and-moving-inside-of-me-all-of-a-sudden/) [Judy Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-reyes/) > [Truthfully, being pregnant is changing me as a person. Each day is part of this amazing journey that has completely shifted the focus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/truthfully-being-pregnant-is-changing-me-as-a-person-each-day-is-part/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) Browse all 1,835 Changing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Trying to change old habits is like fighting a war in your head—a draining and exhausting skirmish that makes you wonder at your chance of survival.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richelle E. 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