“How do I avoid falling back into old habits such as swearing?”

To overcome a bad habit such as swearing, make a goal to stop. Write this goal in your journal or somewhere you can see it daily. As soon as you catch yourself falling back into your habit, stop immediately. Realize that the devil wants you to continue your bad habit. Invite the Spirit by reading your scriptures and praying to Heavenly Father for guidance.

Pray. Tell your Father in Heaven you want to avoid falling back into old habits. Second, have faith. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ only want the best for you. Have faith that They will help you. Third, search and ponder. Read your scriptures, For the Strength of Youth, and your patriarchal blessing, for they will help you and guide you. Last, take action. Choose friends who use clean language, who support you in avoiding old habits. Heed the guidance of the prophets and apostles, for they will not lead you astray. I know this is true, mainly because I have had to fix my old habits as well. I don’t regret that I heeded this counsel. It has truly helped me.

Hang out with people who don’t have the habit you’re trying to break. Then you may not even think about it because you’re around people who don’t do it. If it’s swearing, sometimes there’s social pressure to use inappropriate language. The solution: don’t hang out with people who swear! Not only will you no longer find a use for it, but you will feel spiritually uplifted.

I have found that incentives really worked when I have tried to quit old habits. You can start out by going a week or a month without doing whatever it is you are quitting. At the end of that time, do a little something you enjoy. You can even get a friend to help you. You and your friend can work on quitting something together. It’s much easier to overcome a habit because you have someone checking up on you and encouraging you. At the end of the month, do something with each other like a party.

One way that works well is to have others help you, such as friends and family. Determine who you usually swear around. Then, with help from the Lord, build up enough courage to let those people know that you’re trying to stop swearing. Tell them that you want them to catch you when you swear. If you feel you cannot ask those people, put your confidence in a close friend or family member who is often at your side. Most importantly, don’t forget to thank your friends, family, and especially the Lord for helping you once you’ve overcome your bad habit.

Whenever you feel like swearing, try to not say anything at that time, or say something good. If a swear word accidentally slips out, then repent, apologize to the people you were around, and apologize to yourself.

If you’re afraid you might go back to old habits, stay close to the Church. Read your scriptures, pray daily, love your parents, go to church, and always smile. Hang out with friends who would always support you. There are times when I feel like going back to my old habits, but when I remember all the wonderful feelings of doing what’s right, I know I don’t want to go back. We don’t have to be afraid as long as we’re doing what’s right. Remember, even if you’re alone, there are thousands of youth in the world who are supporting you.