"Why the habit rabbit hole goes deeper than you think"

Outcome change, Process change and Identity change.

He states that the most effective way to change your habits is to “focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become”, as he puts it. But let us go back to the start of the chapter.

He starts this chapter off by asking a rhetorical question; “Why is it so easy to repeat bad habits and so hard to form good ones?” The reason for this he says is that it appears difficult to keep good habits for more than a few weeks or even days. Things like exercise, meditation and journaling might be easy to do for a few days but feel more like a hassle afterwards and that established habits stick with us forever and yes, even the ones we do not like having. James Clear goes on to employ two core reasons as to why it is so challenging to change our habits:

We try to change the wrong thing,

and

We try to change our habits in the wrong way.

The latter will be discussed in the next chapters while the first one will be elaborated in this very chapter.

As mentioned earlier on, this chapter is about the three levels of change. To elaborate the first problem he wants the readers to think of the levels as an onion. The very first layer is to change the outcome. This level of change is associated with the goals you set yourself e.g., losing weight, publishing a book or winning a championship. The next layer is to change the process. This level is about the habits that are associated to your goal and adjusting them e.g., implementing a new routine at the gym, decluttering your desk for better workflow or developing a meditation practice. The final layer is to change your identity. This level is about changing your beliefs e.g., your worldview, your self-image or your judgments about yourself and others.

“Outcomes are about what you get". Processes are about what you get. Identity is about what you believe.” is how he summarizes this model. Now, keep in mind that it is not about the fact that one level is better or worse than the other but rather in which direction you move. Focusing on what they want to achieve leads to outcome-based habits. On the other hand, focusing on who we want to become leads to identity-based habits.

Let me give you an example of two people resisting a cigarette. Look closely, since you might miss the difference. When asked, the first person responds with “No thanks. I am trying to quit.” while the second person responds by saying “No thanks. I am not a smoker.” And? Did you spot the difference? If not, I do not blame you since the difference is very subtle. Let me explain it to you. The first person´s response sounds pretty comprehendable at first sight, but taking a closer look you realize that they are still believing to be a smoker who tries to be someone else. They think their behaviour will change while carrying the same beliefs. Now let us take a look at the second person. This response emphasizes a shift in identity, basically meaning that smoking was part of their former life and that smoking is no longer part of their life. They do not identify with it anymore, is what I am trying to say.

“Behind every system of actions is a system of beliefs.”

Democracy for example is founded on the beliefs of freedom and social equality while dictatorships are focused on absolute authority and strict obedience. There is always an identity behind certain habits, a set of beliefs and assumptions, if you will.

What is important, is that behaviour must be congruent with the self or it will not last. James Clear says that you might want to have a lot of money, but as long as you tend to spend more than you save, you will never achieve that goal. Same thing applies for better health. You want to be more healthy, yet you “prioritize comfort over accomplishments” and you will stick to relaxing rather than working out, leaving you in the same position at all times.

Intrinsic motivation

“The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity.” There is a big difference between someone that says that they are “The type of person who wants something” and someone who is “The type of person who is something”.

Change your goals

Many times we set the wrong goals. We set a goal do something but do not identify with it.

“The goal is not read a book, but to become a reader,

The goal is not to run a marathon, but to become a runner,

The goal is not to learn an istrument, but to become a musician.”

Your behaviour is always a reflection of your identity, so change who you want to be before changing what you want to achieve.

The two-step process to changing your identity

“Your identity emerges out of your habtis.”, James Clear says. On the other hand, your habits are how you embody your identity. Making your bed everyday? Great! You then embody an organized person. You write everyday? How nice! You embody a creative person. You train everyday? Astounding! You embody an athletic person. 

The trick is in repeating something, everyday. Afterall, repeating a certain behaviour reinforces your identity. Starting off as a writer, James Clear was “modest” at best and he did not associate himself with a writer. But publishing an article every week over a span of a few years the evidence of being a writer grew, and so did his identity. As said before, he was not a writer at the beginning, but rather became one through his habits. Obviously, habits are not the only thing that influence your identity, but they sure are the most important one.

The two-step process is the following:

1. Decide the type of person you want to be,

2. Prove it to yourself with small wins.

What do you want to stand for? What are your principles and values? Who do you wish to become? Once you have decided, you can begin to take small steps (wins) towards your desired goals. Acting like who you want to become will make it easier to become said person. The formation of all habits is a “feedback loop”, so he says. But he will explain this in future chapters. Basically it is about habits shaping your identity and your identity shaping your habits. Finally, he states that the focus should always be to become a certain person rather than getting a particular outcome.

That will be it for todays article. I hope you learned something new and do not forget to tell me what that one particular thing is that you learned about today. The next chapter is called “How to build better habits in 4 simple steps.”. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned for the next article.