Edwin Friedman composed a number of wise fables. One is about a moth that spends a whole day advising, nagging, talking at, a fly which flies against a window all day attempting to get out The fly does not change its behavior. When night falls it rests on the sill. The moth sees a light and flies toward it. The sound of an electric bug killer zapping a bug soon follows.
What’s the hardest habit to break? Someone else’s! How much time don’t we as spouses, parents, and friends spend attempting to get our spouse, our children, and our friends to change their habits. Such a waste of time and energy. And usually we end up quite frustrated. The only person we can ever change is ourselves. That’s hard enough.