Increments and why they matter

Hello

I wanted to highlight an important fundemental regarding streaks that is often overlooked, increments.

Here's what I have to say
Just right now I had the easiest chance of my life to do my old routine PMO session. Home alone, nobody there to disturb, started a new streak so breaking it won't be a big deal? Wrong. It makes a huge deal. I stopped.

Think of it this way, you have a small chance to look at some provoking photo on instagram or whereever, you click it, then you look at it, then a bit more, suddenly your brain wants more and you end up "snowballing" your way to another PMO session. The next day you feel like shit because it's day 0 again- this combined with the chaser effect, you relapse again. The cycle continues. Have you noticed that you could have broken the pattern almost anywhere in this story? This is why increments matter, the first time you stop yourself watching that lewd photo or gif, the next time will be easier, and slowly you will find that you no longer have a problem with these things.

This is what streaks are about. Small positive increments over a length of time. Think of your streak as a fort and every day is another brick to reinforce yourself.

Increments do not only have to be you abstaining from porn. It can be you giving your long pending project/assignment a bit of work. It could be you learning one extra word on that language your learning. It could be you cleaning up that chocolate wrapper in your room. Now that you have done it once, the next time will be easier and slowly, you'll have a GOOD habit in your character.

Think of this the next time you feel those "impossible" urges to relapse.