“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” James Clear, a core philosophy of Atomic Habits:
“An atomic habit is a little habit that is part of a larger system. Just as atoms are the building blocks of molecules, atomic habits are the building blocks of remarkable results,” writes James Clear, author of the best selling book, Atomic Habits.
Applying the principles and philosophies of Atomic Habits to your wealth building, money management and achievement of financial freedom can grow into life-altering outcomes.
Focusing on little habits repeated over a long period of time is how to create good habits, break bad ones, and get 1 percent better every day.
Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. Getting 1 percent better every day counts for a lot in the long-run. “It is only when looking back two, five, or perhaps ten years later that the value of good habits and the cost of bad ones becomes strikingly apparent,” writes Clear.
Thus, habits are a double-edged sword. They can work for you or against you, which is why understanding the details is essential.
Small changes often appear to make no discernible difference in the short term until you cross a critical threshold. The most powerful outcomes of any compounding process are delayed. You need to be patient. “Many of the choices you make today will not benefit you immediately,” Clear explains.
If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems,” stresses James Clear. “Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress,”
Habits Shape Your Identity (and Vice Versa) There are three levels of change: outcome change, process change, and identity change.
Focus on who you wish to become
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, writes Clear. Your identity emerges out of your habits. Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.
Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, and to upgrade and expand your identity. Your behaviours are usually a reflection of your identity. “What you do is an indication of the type of person you believe that you are either consciously or non consciously.,” Clear says.
The real reason habits matter is not because they can get you better results (although they can do that), but because they can change your beliefs about yourself.
A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough times to become automatic. “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity,” said James Clear.
The ultimate purpose of habits is to resolve the routines, challenges and problems of daily life with as little conscious energy and effort as possible.
References:
- https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
- https://waymakerfinance.com.au/blog/applying-atomic-habits-to-your-finances