A different approach to creating a habit
Day 147 / 365
As some of you might know I have been doing another challenge for this year — to read 52 books in 2019. I have read 22 so far, and some of these are books I wouldn’t have otherwise read if not for this challenge. ‘Atomic Habits’, the book I am reading currently, is a book I would not have normally picked up, but I am glad that I did.
I am just 5 chapters into the book but have already learned a lot about how we form habits, both good and bad, and how we can use that process to the advantage. And the book also introduces the concept of 3 layers of Behavioural change, which explains where we are going wrong when we try to make new habits.
The three layers represent the aspects that come into play when we try to change our habits.
Most people approach this from outside. We first set our goals, which are the outcomes we want. We then set a process, which is what we must do in order to achieve our goals. And we hope that by doing that we will eventually be able to change our identity, our belief system.
So for example, you want to lose weight, so you join the gym and show up every day. And you are hoping that you become a healthier person.
The book suggests that we have to look at it the other way, i.e from inside out. It’s our identity, our belief system, that actually created our bad habits in the first place. So that is what we should be tackling.
Make Identity based habits
When we start off by setting goals, we are trying to build outcome based habits. While these might work in the short run, if you want to build a long-lasting habit you should focus on building Identity-based habits instead.
So start off from what type of identity you want to have, what type of person you want to be. Then figure out the process, what you need to do to get that identity. And finally, you will achieve the outcomes, which will just reinforce the belief that you have become the person you want to be. These will be the habits that will last.
So if you want to lose weight, become the person who exercises every day. Become a runner, become a musician, become a person that eats healthy, that keeps their room tidy. Become a person that is calm and doesn’t have anger issues. Then look for small wins each day, be it a 20-second plank, or an hour of guitar practice, or a quick cleanup of the clutter on your desk, and take that as proof that you are becoming the person you want to be.
Don’t just focus on the outcomes, focus on changing your identity.
This post is part of my 365 Day Project for 2019. Read about it here
Yesterday’s blog —Find a way or fade away