Just 21 Days

We have all heard it only takes 21 days to change a habit or create a new one, but where did that come from... is it true?  Apparently it is!  In the 1950's a plastic surgeon started noticing after about 21 days, his patients were used to seeing their "new nose" or "new face" and so he tried it himself and found it was about 21 days for the old mental image to be removed from his mind and the new one to jell.  His theory took hold, there were many that took that information and ran with it and now we hear it all the time.
But, based on another study of 96 people, the research showed it takes a minimum of 21 days and actually can take longer! I believe it is a matter of choice once you start the change you choose to accept that change.  It's whether you put in the work and it depends on what you are working to change.  Losing 20 pounds in 21 days is unrealistic but choosing to eat healthy will continue the "habit" of eating right and getting closer to the weight loss goal.
A book that impacted my life years ago was Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and now it is part of the curriculum in our schools in the area.  The habits include "be proactive" and "put first things first".  I find his seven habits easy to do (well, they may be hard some days to implement but they aren't impossible) and refer to them quite a bit as I go through my daily work.  Again, I think it's a choice.  You can choose to be happy regardless or you can wallow in self pity.  You can choose to drink that extra bottle of water or another calorie filled coke.
Today, I saw this in a file I keep and thought by the time spring comes, I can build this into my good, daily habits.  I am going to be rewiring my brain for the next 21 days... or however long it takes.  What will be exciting is to be at a place where every moment of every day makes me realize how truly grateful I am.