Every habit has a cost and reward associated with it. A key difference between good habits and bad habits is the order in which the related cost and reward occur.
A bad habit tends to feature an immediate reward, followed later (sometimes MUCH later) by the cost.
Eat a bowl of ice cream tonight and the reward is immediate: smooth, creamy satisfying goodness. Eat that bowl of ice cream every night for five years and you have quite a few extra pounds and possibly some related health problems.
On the other hand, good habits often bring the cost first and the reward follows behind.
Make yourself go to the gym after work and it costs you time and energy. But if it becomes a habit, the reward comes in time in the form of strength and good health.
Notice this too: the rewards of bad habits are shallow, temporary feelings. The rewards of good habits are deep benefits that last a lifetime.
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