A trigger can give rise to a pattern — sometimes a pattern that can lead to regret.

That first fun-size Snickers can set off a cycle of bingeing that ends only when the bag is empty. The mad dash to get out of the house in the morning generates a cycle of rushing — turning your drive to work into an Evil Knievel-like exercise that leaves you anxious and exhausted before the workday even starts.

If you want to stop a pattern, first identify and eliminate the trigger. Empty the contents of the candy jar (preferably not in your mouth) and remove the jar from your sight. Maybe you remove it from home or office. Set your alarm to wake up 15 minutes earlier.

Make these decisions and act on them only when you’re not caught up in the cycle.
Eliminate the trigger… and you dampen, or even break the cycle.