— books, reading notes, atomic habits — 2 min read
Part 1 Fundamentals • Part 3 Building Better Habits in 4 Steps • Part 4 1st Law: Make It Obvious
There levels at which change can occur:
Changing outcomes: e.g. losing weight, publishing a book, etc. "Goal-setting"
Changing processes: e.g. new routine at the gym, decluttering desk for better workflow, habit formation.
Changing identity: e.g. changing beliefs, worldview, self-image, judgments, assumptions, biases etc.
When it comes to building habits that last, the problem is not that one level is "better" or "worse" than another. All levels of change are useful in their own way. The problem is the direction of change.
Behavior that is incongruent with the self will not last. E.g. You may want more money, but if your identity is someone who consumes rather than creates, then you'll continue to be pulled toward spending rather than earning.
Ultimate form of intrinsic motivation: habit becomes part of your identity.
Your behaviors are usually a reflection of your identity.
Don't get too attached to one version of your identity. Progress requires unlearning.
Becoming best version of one's self requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, upgrade and expand your identity.
How do you emphasize new aspects of your identity that serve you and gradually erase the pieces that hinder you?
Every belief is learned and conditioned through experience.
The more you repeat a behavior, the more you reinforce the identity associated with that behavior.
You are what you repeatedly do.
More evidence you have for a belief, the more strongly you will believe it.
Each habit is likea suggestion. Continually undergo microevolutions of the self.
Every action is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.
Same goes for bad habits. No need unanimous vote to win election; just need majority. Goal is simply to win majority.
New identities require new evidence. If nothing changes, nothing is going to change.
Process: