First we make our habits, then our habits make us.

I recently heard this quote in a business setting and was moved by the depth in which it applies to all of our life decisions (spiritual or otherwise).

First we make our habits.

Much of our life is spent developing habits for better or worse. Our agency is key in many respects to the food we eat, the entertainment we seek, and the manner in which we spend our time. As we mature we have opportunities for higher education and employment and, for the most part, we get to choose the trade, profession or field of interest in which we will spend much of our adult time. We may choose to be homemakers, or seek employment outside the home. Regardless of the paths that we choose our choices build within us habits that make us who we are.
If we immerse ourselves in vain and destructive influences such as immoral and violent entertainment (movies, music, and games), addictive substances and practices (drugs, energy drinks, gambling, pornography), or faith destroying ideas (materials antagonistic to our history, faith or culture) then regardless of our perceived invincibility we develop within ourselves tolerance, lack of sensitivity and even interest in these vain and destructive influences.
If we however immerse ourselves in wholesome, productive, lifting influences that encourage us to think, move and act like God and his servants then we build a different sort of tolerance… a tolerance for sacrifice, service, and sanctity.

Then our habits make us.

Once our tolerance for these influences is set we become altogether a product of our habits. The individual immersed in immoral, crude, or violent movies eventually thinks about, reacts, and behaves like the material being consumed. One doesn’t develop a crude vocabulary by hanging around others who possess the tongue of virtue. Nor does one commit acts of infidelity without first having developed habits which lead him or her down that path.
Alternatively, the way to become like God is painted all throughout the scriptures. We are asked to obtain faith and then add to that faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. (2Pet 1:5-7) We are told elsewhere that those favored of God are those who are humble, repentant, submissive, inclined toward righteousness, merciful, pure, missionary minded, willing to suffer persecution and ultimately desirous for perfection. (Matthew 5:3-12, 48; 3 Nep 12:1-12,48)

Immersing ourselves in the scriptures, developing within ourselves habits of sacrifice and service and seeking to stand in holy places at all times are righteous habits which will make of us righteous and joy-filled servants of our Heavenly Father.