However, our decisions come from conscious, unconscious or habitual sources. As is turns out, very few decisions that we make are conscious. Our decisions come primarily from our habits. Most of our lives are driven by habits and associated impulse. Habits, of course, are simply the actions we take when we don't think about what we are doing.
Good habits can be very useful.
They can execute skillful tasks skillfully and without occupying the mind with repetitive material. They make sure our teeth get brushed every night before we retire, and they bring unconscious smiles to our faces when we see acquaintances. We are simply following the engrained mind-patterns that come from repeated reinforcement. Bad or harmful habits, though, can cause us to spiral downward into destitution or destruction. Any attempt to retrain the mind requires conscious intervention into our habit patterns until old habits begin to atrophy through disuse as they are overlaid with new ones.