To change your habits, you have to believe

Written By Alfred Twj

To Change Your Habits, You Have to Believe

I never thought I could change my bad habits until I started to believe in myself. But believing is easier said than done. So how do we actually start? In this article, I’ll share my personal experiences on how I began to believe that change is possible — if you stay focused and trust in the process. I’m still struggling with some habits, but I’ve seen enough to know that change is possible.

Here are four pieces of evidence that helped me believe in change:

1. Seeing Other People Change

Sometimes, we need proof before we believe something is possible. That’s why it helps to see others who’ve successfully changed.

I know close friends who smoked for over 20 years and suddenly stopped. At first, it seemed impossible, but I realized they struggled just like I did. The difference? They stuck with it. Knowing that people I know have made it through gave me motivation. Maybe I’m not quite ready — but seeing their success reminds me that it can be done.

2. Seeing Yourself Change — Even in Small Ways

When I look back, I’m surprised at how many small habits I’ve changed over the years. Here are some:

I clean my room every 2 days
I used to be super messy. But staying in other people’s homes or dusty hotel rooms forced me to clean. Over time, it became a routine. Now, I can’t work if my space isn’t clean.

I read while commuting, with a highlighter
I used to buy books and never read them. One day, I brought a book on the train and started reading. Everyone else was on their phones, and I wanted to be different. That small action turned into a habit.

I make my bed every morning
I learned this from a businessman I shared a hotel room with. He told me, “Start your day by completing a task.” It stuck with me. Now, I make my bed every day and feel a small sense of pride from it.

I prepare all my equipment 1–2 days before a shoot
I used to be disorganised and forget gear, which hurt my work. Eventually, I realised my job is about being reliable. Now I prep ahead of time and never go back.

These are small changes, but they’re proof that I can change. So maybe I can tackle my bigger bad habits too.

3. Seeing the Positive Impact of Good Habits

Think about how good habits have made you feel. That feeling can drive change.

Sometimes I ask myself:

How would I feel if I quit smoking?
What if I went outside more to practice photography?
What if I just tried one tiny step today?

Just thinking about the benefits gives me hope. Even small wins can spark big motivation.


4. Small Steps Make a Big Difference Over Time

The truth is: bad habits are hard to break because they’re part of our routine. It’s scary to imagine life without them.

What helped me most was taking microscopic steps:

Smoke one less cigarette
Walk for 5 minutes
Do just 3 push-ups

Don’t look at the full mountain. Just focus on the next step. Slowly, these little changes build up.

Final Thoughts

We all know we need to change our bad habits — but it’s not easy. They’re deeply rooted in our daily lives. Sometimes, I’m afraid to let go of mine because I don’t know who I’ll be without them.

But change is possible. I’ve seen it in others. I’ve seen it in myself.

Start small. Trust yourself. Believe that you can.

Thanks for reading.

Alfred Twj