Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what to do and the why. Skill is the how to do. And desire is the motivation, the want to do. In order to make something a habit our lives, we have to have all three.
Steven Covey in his timeless best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change defines the habit in this quote.
He defines a habit as an intersection of 1 – Knowledge, 2 – Skill, and 3- Desire. He explains the necessity of each of the three pillars. Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm that tells you what to do and why you need to be doing it. Skill tells you how to do it, and lastly the desire keeps you motivated for doing it.
To develop a habit of something you need to have all three dimensions. The absence of any of the above three can move you away from the habit. For example, if you want to develop a habit of reading, then you must know what to read, how to read, and you should have a desire to read. Taking any of the things out of the equation can prevent you from forming a habit, so all three things are essential and they are the basis for forming a habit of anything.
Do you agree with the 3 dimensions required to develop a habit? Let us know in the comments. Check this book on Amazon from the link below –
The Good Giver 