Changing habits is challenging for two reasons:
Your first mistake is you try to change the wrong thing. Change occurs at three levels.
Two people are trying to quit smoking. You offer one a smoke.
“No thanks. I’m trying to quit.”
You approach the second, they decline as well.
“No thanks. I’m not a smoker.”
It’s a small difference, but this statement signals a shift in identity. Smoking was part of their former life, not their current one. They no longer identify as someone who smokes.
The first person still believes they are a smoker who is trying to be something else. They hope their behavior will change while carrying around the same beliefs.
Most people don’t consider identity change when they set out to improve. They just think, “I want to be skinny (outcome) and if I stick to this diet, then I’ll be skinny (process).”
YOUR BELIEFS
Behind every system of actions is a system of beliefs.
Behavior that is incongruent with the self will not last.
True behavior change is identity change. You might start a habit because of motivation. The only reason you’ll stick with it is it becomes part of your identity.
Are these some of your beliefs? “I’m terrible with directions.” “I’m not a morning person.” “I’m bad at remembering people’s names.” “I’m always late.” “I’m not good with technology.” “I’m horrible at math.”
James Clear on building identity-based habits:
THE TWO-STEP PROCESS TO CHANGING YOUR IDENTITY
Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.
I can remember my son, Dan, telling me, “Dad I’m not good at math!”
At the time Dan and I would be in my car for 2.5 hours to drive to my home, and then 2.5 hours back to his mother’s every other weekend.
Over time, guess what? Dan got good at math. So good, he became an engineer, earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering at UW-Wisconsin.
New identities require new evidence. If you keep casting the same votes you’ve always cast, you’re going to get the same results you’ve always had. If nothing changes, nothing is going to change.
Follow this simple two-step process:
Decide the type of person you want to be. Then (2) prove it to yourself with small wins.
First, decide who do you want to be?
You have the power to change your beliefs about yourself. Your identity is not set in stone. You have a choice in every moment. You can choose the identity you want to reinforce today with the habits you choose today.
Ultimately, your habits matter because they help you become the type of person you wish to be. They are the channel through which you develop your deepest beliefs about yourself. Quite literally, you become your habits.
Remember, Forget About Setting Goals. Focus on This Instead - James Clear
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