As with all other attachments, the key to uncovering the original value of your habit is to begin by tracing it back to its roots and discovering when and why you first acquired it. Take a few moments to ponder the point of time when your habit developed..    

            Use the following questions to get at the root of your bad habit: How long have I had this habit? What were the circumstances in my life when I started this habit? Why did I acquire it? Why did it make sense then? Are those circumstances the same in my life right now? Who else in my life shares this habit?

While it is helpful to pinpoint when you started the habit as you think about the past, don’t worry if that particular point in time seems a little vague. Sometimes habits start when we are so young, we aren’t really conscious of the need we are trying to serve at the time. If going backward doesn’t lead you to a brilliant insight, what is more important is to honestly and fairly identify what you get out of the habit now

 How long has this habit felt like a burden? What do I gain from this habit now? What positives does it bring to my life? Is my reasoning for keeping this habit still valid right now? If I were to stop this habit right now, what would I miss most about it? What is my attachment to this habit?

Your job is to uncover the positive need the bad habit is serving—in other words, the good reason behind the bad behavior. Trust me, it’s there. Once you understand the hidden value of your bad habit, you can begin to let it go, ultimately replacing it with something more productive.