From Gregory Stock’s The Book of Questions: What are your two most compulsive habits? Do you struggle to break them? If so, what would it feel like to accept them and give up on trying to change?

First off, let me say that I am NOT an expert on compulsive habits. But I used to have a few repetitive behaviors that I struggled to break.

My first habit was snacking late at night. No matter how full I was from dinner, I could always find room for a midnight bowl of Cinnamon Toast Cruch. I knew it wasn’t healthy, but I just couldn’t stop myself from sneaking into the kitchen when I woke up in the middle of the night. But knowing something isn’t healthy and doing something about it are two completely different things.

After years of this nightly ritual, I finally started asking myself WHY I felt such a strong urge to eat at night. Was it boredom? Stress? Simple pleasure? Identifying the root cause helped me have more self-compassion. I decided to try some intermittent fasting. I made the decision that between the hours of 7:00pm and 7:00am, I wouldn’t eat anything and would drink only water. It’s taken a lot of self-discipline, but I’m happy to say I’ve broken the late-night snacking habit.

My other bad habit is getting overly angry while driving. I’m sure many of you can relate – one wrong turn or careless driver can send me into a swearing rampage! I know all that anger isn’t good for my mental or physical health, but in those moments it feels nearly impossible to control.

When I really reflect on these outbursts, I realize they often stem from feeling rushed, late, or generally anxious about life. And then there’s the thing where I mostly just hate people. But my road rage is less about the actual traffic and more about my own frustrations boiling over. So I try taking a few deep breaths at stop lights to calm down. Sometimes I’ll put on soothing music and consciously relax my shoulders. Over time, I’m hoping this will help me stay cooler under pressure.

So there you have it… two of my most compulsive habits that can ultimately improve through self-reflection and self-discipline. I still slip up now and then, but overall I feel much more in control. What about you? Have any behaviors you’ve struggled to break? Or any you’ve learned to accept? Share your stories in the comments below!