James Clear’s Advice for Building Habits—It Starts With Creating a New Identity
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. But human beings are creatures of routine and even for those of us that lean into spontaneity (guilty and thank you ADHD) more than occasionally can find it challenging to try different approaches—especially on a consistent basis.
This year I was determined to do the whole new year’s resolutions thing differently. I wanted to come at it with a measured and scientifically-proven approach so that I am not beating myself up on December 31st for not finally making this the year that I become holistically stronger.
One book that has been particularly insightful in helping me stay consistent with my goals and commitments is James Clear’s Atomic Habits. In it, Clear explains how we can use our identity as a catalyst for change, which has been an empowering concept for me and hoping for my fellow Mother Ruckers.
In the book, Clear argues that the key to building good habits is to focus on who we want to become, rather than on what we want to achieve. This means that we need to start by defining our identity – the person we want to be – and then work backwards from there to create the habits that will help us become that person.
For me, this meant identifying as a “rucker” rather than just someone who occasionally goes for walks with a backpack. By embracing this identity, I was able to create habits that aligned with it, such as scheduling regular rucking outings, tracking my progress, and connecting with other ruckers for support and accountability.
What I love about this approach is that it shifts our focus away from short-term goals and towards a long-term vision of who we want to be. Instead of feeling like we’re constantly striving for something that’s just out of reach, we can feel empowered by our identity and the habits that support it.
Of course, there are still challenges and setbacks along the way. But by staying connected to our identity and focusing on the habits that support it, we can stay motivated and consistent in our pursuit of our goals. For me and my fellow ruckers, this has meant not only becoming stronger physically, but also feeling more empowered and confident in ourselves and our abilities.
If you’re struggling to stay consistent with your goals, I highly recommend checking out Atomic Habits and exploring how you can use your identity as a catalyst for change. It’s a powerful concept that can help you create habits that align with the person you want to be, and ultimately lead to greater success and fulfillment in your life.
