Atomic Habits - Chp 2 - How Your Habits Shape Your Identity (and Vice Versa) (Copy)
Chapter Summary:
There are three levels of change: outcome change, process change, and identity change.
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.
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.
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.
Thoughts:
A lot is said in this chapter about habits as they relate to our identity. Towards the end, it is summed up as, “The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do” (pg 38).
The author poses the challenge, “First, decide who you want to be” (pg 39). This reminded me a lot of the WWJD, or what would Jesus do, saying that was popular when I was younger. What I want to become varies, depending on what aspect of my identity I’m thinking of. But there are also identities that are more overarching than others and may influence the more specific identities. For example, at ASI, (in this moment) I want to become an Art Director that gets results and makes an impact. This doesn’t apply to my identity as a father, but an overarching identity I desire is to be consistent. That would carry over to both and, likely, more.
I laughed to myself when the author wrote, “if nothing changes, nothing is going to change.” (pg 39). This was one of the phrases Chris gave me to design around when working at Friends United Network (FUN). Takes on a new meaning in the context of this book.
