"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
Change your own habits or help others change theirs with this 2018 book is a game-changer. James Clear brings together theory and insight to create a masterpiece; it is jam-packed with loads of useful stuff that is so simple it is brilliant.
I cannot recommend this enough. It is full of helpful tools and ideas on habits to make tiny changes and get remarkable results.
My favourite book about habits used to be the Power of Habit. I found it incredibly interesting but ultimately quite theoretical and somewhat difficult or confusing to apply in real life. In this book though, Atomic Habits, Clear has a completely different and genius approach. The simplicity that James Clear is able to bring and the focus he provides through his writing showcases his mastery of the topic as he delves deep into every step of habit creation from a super practical point of view.
His message is clear: who we are and what we will achieve depends on the tiny choices and small habits that shape us every day. We will only achieve our dreams by focusing on improving those tiny habits will lead to much bigger changes and accomplishments.
Goals are next to useless, the athlete who gets Gold and who finished last had the same goal.
- Focus on your system.
Who you are and what drives you is powerful.
- Change your ‘identity’ to change your habits.
Motivation is entirely overrated.
- Design the environment to support habits.
Why and how we approach those tiny habits are super important. Clear believes that there are three layers of behaviour change in our lives: either outcomes-based or identify-based. A really simple shift, but for me, and people I coach, this is such a powerful change maker.
The basic premise is that with outcome-based habits, the focus is on what we want to achieve. With identity-based habits, the focus is on who we wish to become.
He uses the example of two people resisting a cigarette in his book. When offered a smoke, the first person says, “No, thanks. I’m trying to quit.” The right answer, right? But they still believe they are a smoker who is trying to be something else. They are hoping, praying and willing for their behaviour to change while carrying around the same beliefs.
He compares that to a second who declines by simply saying, “No thanks. I’m not a smoker.” A small change, but a statement that signals a shift in identity. Smoking was part of their former life, not their current one. They no longer identify as somebody who smokes.
Habit & Identity
If you think about it like that…
- Your goal is not to read a book; the goal is to become a reader.
- Your goal is not to run a marathon; the goal is to become a runner.
- Your goal is not to learn an instrument; the goal is to become a musician.
Your behaviours are usually an outward manifestation of your identity and beliefs. They are often deep-set in our psyche, and we carry them around ten to the dozen without even realising.
- “I’m not a morning person.”
- “I’m awful at maths.”
- “I just can’t remember peoples names.”
When we repeat these stories to ourselves time and time again, it’s no surprise that we slide into these mental grooves and accept them as fact. In the book, James explores why this is the case and the phenomena that drive our behaviours and provides useful thoughts and clear ideas for a new way forward.
A simple powerful framework for making or breaking habits, the foundation for the book.
What next?
Ultimately, Atomic Habits succeeds where few have before – in practically supporting you to make or break habits. His 1% improvement formula is not the magic pill for transformational results, but a thousand of them is. Everyday building a better you and making each 1% so easy that you cannot fail.
Whether you want to achieve in life, at work or in education Atomic Habits: The life-changing million-copy bestseller is a well worth investment. And if you’d like a no-commitments-chat about how I could support you, I’d love that.
