Overcome Negative Habits

Both good and bad habits are the offspring of our thought process. We 
bring them into being and support them with attention. We can change any 
habit when we see how we created it.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Often as we go into a new year, we reflect on our life and think about how we want to make changes to live a life of that is more harmonious with our highest good. One of the things we can do to is look at our habits and how we can make changes if we need to. 
One of the primary texts of classical Yoga spiritual philosophy is The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The sutras state that our actions, even thoughts, can produce either negative or positive impacts upon the mental field. Negative habits can be starved with inattention or weakened by using the practice of opposites as outlined in the sutras. For example, when we notice dislike for someone, we can find some positive aspect of that person and cultivate thoughts of loving kindness. Overcoming negative habits helps us purify the mental field, the primary requisite for real success in meditation and spiritual transformation.
Q: How do you recognize negative habits in thought or action?
Q: What tools do you utilize in dealing with negative habits or tendencies?
Q: Have you looked at the creation of habits and found ways to change them?