Without realizing it, most of our distress and failures are simply a product of our harmless behaviors. These activities are not damaging in and of themselves, but they can become cyclical without us even realizing it. Here are five observations to areas where we can improve ourselves and our lives with those around us.

To Fix a Problem, You Must See, Recognize and Acknowledge the Problem

One of the most common areas for problems is the ability to identify good habits from bad ones. This is not always easy to do. Some of these are harmless on the surface but by carefully examining yourself for their existence, you may recognize some of these traits.

Why repeat behavior that is not bringing about positive results? Humans favor the common, familiar ground. Changing a habit or trying a new approach could be one of the hardest things to do. Most people do not welcome the unknown nor do they want to tread on uncommon or unfamiliar ground.

Some of the most common areas of repetitive problems:

Financial Problems - No matter how much you make, you never seem to have enough money. Debt grows and savings stagnate.

Consistent Job Unhappiness - No matter what you do & where you work, there is always a problem: problems with coworkers, stupid management, hostile customers.

Lose Weight... Again - A vicious circle of losing weight only to see this weight creep back to where it was to begin with... or even a little more.

Poisonous Relationships - You keep going after the same type of dates only to find yourself in another dead-end relationship. Whether it is the needy, clingy, independent or firey types, you learn but yet you do not learn that these relationships always end the same way - disaster.

If this does not sound like you, maybe you should apply these description to either you Mom or Dad...or both. Perhaps you display these tendencies in other ways that are not apparent on the surface. But if you can relate these to either parent, chances might be pretty good and worth examining that they may be just under the surface for the reflection in the mirror.

Remove yourself from these self-destructive circles of habit. Focus on the things you can influence. You cannot make an incompetent boss change or go away. Try another approach. Find a way to make them more successful and you will likely change your attitude towards that person. Zig Zigler said "...by helping others get what they want, you help yourself get what you want". Try it!