The Unexpected Benefits of Annoying Habits

We all have annoying habits—the little things we do that drive our family and friends crazy.

But what if there were benefits to these habits or what we call, peccadillo?

Contrary to what you might think, some of those annoying behaviors can actually make us happier and healthier!

Here are just a few of the unexpected benefits of annoying habits.

What does peccadillo mean?

Today’s mentor message is about something that I call a peccadillo.

I didn’t make up that word. It’s a word that actually exists.

I think I first heard it in a movie and sometimes a peccadillo is something that is a unique quality, trait, mannerism, or habit that someone that you care about has, that when you first experience it, it’s frustrating and annoying.

It’s something that you wrinkle your nose and you have a frown on your brow, but later in life, it becomes something that is the most endearing to you about that person.

I’ll give you an example.

My wife, when we first met, one of her peccadillos was when we’d be driving down the road and she’d say, “did you see that beautiful tree or did you see that beautiful Bush?”.

And of course, I didn’t because I’m focused on driving.

Now, over a decade later, here we’re driving into Green Castle, Indiana today to help out one of our kiddos and she noticed every flowering Dogwood tree because they’re blooming right now.

She noticed every single one of them on the drive there.

However, early in our marriage, that was a little annoying to me because it was a constant.

“Did you see this? Did you see that?”

But now I’ve come to absolutely find that to be an endearing trait because she’s helped me see the beauty all around us.

Here’s more on how to make the most of your surroundings!

Why annoying habits can help others

In fact, right now, I’m sitting in a place that really was overgrown a couple of years ago.

You couldn’t even stand where I’m sitting (in the video above) right now.

It was so overgrown.

We were looking for a place to really enjoy the sunsets over at our lake.

My wife said, “why not over here?”.

I’m like, “you can’t even walk over there”.

And she’s like, “I know, but I just think that’s the prettiest spot on the lake.

So for a hundred days during the pandemic in a row, we came over here and watched the sunset.

Now we’ve named our lake Sunset Lake.

We’ve got a little tiny house sitting in this very spot because she paid attention to the natural beauty that was around.

I no longer find these peccadillos annoying; in fact, I find it beautiful when she points out every flower and every tree.

It’s now strange if she doesn’t point them out.

Why it’s important to embrace those differences

One of our kids just had a situation.

Our daughter called literally in tears because there’s this young man that is a friend that reacted to something that is a peccadillo to her.

He reacted in a way that really frustrated her and I just had to laugh and say, “someday, if this is your person, they’re going to find that to be one of the most endearing things about you”.

So, don’t get upset when someone points out your peccadillo, go up to that person you love and say, “Hey, I’m Mark and that’s just who I am”.

They will someday come to love that peccadillo if they are your person.

I promise you that if you love someone and spend enough time with them, you won’t want them to change.

That very thing that annoys you today, will likely become something that you can’t live without tomorrow.

Are you interested in achieving professional success without sacrificing personal fulfillment?

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2 Comments

  1. Mor Maty Seck on September 3, 2022 at 2:26 pm

    good article Mark, Every person is unique on this planet.

    • Chris Davis on September 16, 2022 at 3:29 pm

      Thank you, Mor Maty! Yes, so very true.

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