Video: The Moral Licensing Loophole | Gretchen Rubin [Skip to content](#content) [ ![](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/gretchenrubin-logo-768x344.png) ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com) - May 8, 2015 - [Habit-change strategies](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/tag/habit-change-strategies/) # Video: The Moral Licensing Loophole ![Close up of rainbow colored cereal.](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FRUIT-LOOPSdry.jpg) In my new (bestselling) book, [**Better Than Before**](http://www.staging.gretchenrubin.com/books/before-after/before-after/), I identify the twenty-one strategies of habit-formation, and one is the **Strategy of Loophole-Spotting**. I’m doing a video series in which I discuss the **[ten categories of loopholes](http://staging.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2014/02/which-of-these-10-categories-of-loopholes-do-you-invoke/).** I love studying loopholes because they’re so *funny*. And ingenious! **We’re such great advocates for ourselves — in any situation, we can always think of some loophole to invoke.** Well, what is a “loophole?” When we try to form and keep habits, we often search for *loopholes*, for justifications that will excuse us from keeping this particular habit in this particular situation. However, if we catch ourselves in the act of loophole-seeking, we can perhaps reject them. In [**Better Than Before**](http://www.staging.gretchenrubin.com/books/before-after/before-after/), I describe all [**ten categories**](http://staging.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2014/02/which-of-these-10-categories-of-loopholes-do-you-invoke/) of loopholes; in this video series. I’ll describe them, one by one. Second of ten loopholes: the [**Moral Licensing Loophole**](http://staging.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2014/01/strategy-of-loophole-spotting-2-moral-licensing/). Here are some examples of how we might use this loophole: **After the day I had, I’ve earned a nice glass of wine.** **I’ve been losing weight steadily on this diet, so it will be okay for me to cut a few corners.** **I’ve been so diligent about meditating, I deserve a day off.** **I haven’t had Girl Scout cookies in years, so I should be able to have some now.** This is a very popular loophole! If you’ve invoked it, how did you use it? #### YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE ![a row of yellow stars sitting on top of a blue and pink surface](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/0zuobtlw3y4-768x513.jpg) [How to Review Your Mid-Year Goals: Lessons Learned from Halfway Day](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/articles/halfway-day-lessons/) ![a couple of women riding bikes down a road](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/gyafawjmrw8-768x511.jpg) [How to Find the Right Exercise Routine for You](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/articles/want-an-exercise-routine-youll-stick-to-ask-yourself-these-11-questions/) ![Photo through the lens of glasses looking at an eye chart.](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/eyeglassesclarity.jpg?resize=768,514) [The Strategy of Clarity: How to Make Sure Your Habits Match Your Goals](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/articles/video-why-having-clarity-of-values-and-clarity-of-action-helps-us-keep-our-habits/) #### DISCOVER MORE # Like what you see? Explore more about this topic. - [Habit-change strategies](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/habit-change-strategies/) # Interested in happiness, habits, and human nature? From renowned happiness expert and *New York Times* bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, the “Five Things Making Me Happy” newsletter is one of today’s most popular newsletters. You’ll get a weekly round-up of what’s making Gretchen happy, as well as practical tips, research, and resources about how we can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. Email Submit Manage Cookie Consent To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Preferences Preferences The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Statistics Statistics The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Marketing Marketing The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. - [Manage options](#) - [Manage services](#) - [Manage {vendor\_count} vendors](#) - [Read more about these purposes](https://cookiedatabase.org/tcf/purposes/) Accept Deny View preferences Save preferences [View preferences](#) - [{title}](#) - [{title}](#) - [{title}](#) Manage consent # Subscribe to Gretchen’s newsletter. Every Friday, Gretchen Rubin shares 5 things that are making her happier, asks readers and listeners questions, and includes exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes material. Email Submit ; ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1375714196636303&ev=PageView&noscript=1&cd%5Bpost_category%5D=Articles&cd%5Bpage_title%5D=Video%3A+The+Moral+Licensing+Loophole&cd%5Bpost_type%5D=post&cd%5Bpost_id%5D=34531&cd%5Bplugin%5D=PixelYourSite&cd%5Buser_role%5D=guest&cd%5Bevent_url%5D=staging.gretchenrubin.com%2Farticles%2Fvideo-the-moral-licensing-loophole-very-popular%2F) [x](# "Close optin form")Subscribe to Gretchen's newsletter Every Friday, Gretchen Rubin shares 5 things that are making her happier, asks readers and listeners questions, and includes exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes material. We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time. Invalid email address Thanks for subscribing! [x](# "Close optin form") ![Blue and yellow pens on blue background](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cropped-cropped-DSC5980-scaled-e1663786433795.jpg) Join more than One Million Subscribers # Get happiness delivered to your inbox. From renowned happiness expert and *New York Times* bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, the “Five Things Making Me Happy” newsletter is one of today’s most popular newsletters. You’ll get a weekly round-up of what’s making Gretchen happy, as well as practical tips, research, and resources about how we can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. [Privacy Policy]() Invalid email address Onward! Thank you for subscribing.