We want to Create Powerful Life-altering Habits for a better more fulfilling and powerful Life. When we hear the word ‘habits’ of course, this word has the connotation to some people including myself of ‘being a small thing’ to overcome.

Not at all.

We should all embrace the great Gandhi quote:

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your ACTIONS become your HABITS,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your DESTINY.”

You can see the importance of Actions to Habits to Values to Destiny. So the small thinking of Habits becomes your Destiny.

HOW DO YOU MAKE HABITS ‘STICK’?

According to James Clear in “Atomic Habits”, we make Habits stick because we tie them into our Identity. In other words, we must link our Habits to the Identity that we want to Become.

When we think of ourselves in two states, “Being” and “Becoming” we are engaged in a philosophical area called Ontology. To me, I think that we have to realize that we exist in two states.

The One we are. Being.

The One we want to be. Becoming.

So you have the person you are currently and the Person you are aiming for in the near future.

The little white sliver between is this:

Work Your New Habits with a New Identity. When you combine Habit with Identity, your efforts will seem superhuman but they will grow, strengthen and then BECOME your new self. Over and over again. Rinse, Wash, Repeat.

COMBINE WHY ‘IDENTITY’ WITH HABITS

In an earlier video, we put forth a critical trajectory: “Creating a Powerful Why.”

The Powerful Why is not only a compelling emotional ‘Centering’ in which we find our most heartfelt pursuit but this “Why” creates an Identity for us on an individual basis. This “Why” can be the most global compelling outreach to the world to make global change:

• Think Gandhi bringing Independence and Freedom to India.

• Think Martin Luther King bringing Freedom and Dignity to Black Americans and all Americans.

• Think Ronald Reagan saying “Take Down This Wall” and defeating the Soviet Socialist dictatorship seeking world domination to crush Freedom.

EMBRACE THE PROCESS

Thinking in terms of words and their actual meaning is critical. These are the three components to create lasting and deep habit building:

•​Identity simply means who we believe we are at our core.

•​Outcomes are the rewards we expect.

•​Processes are the actual practices we use to change our behavior.

Identity is the critical step in the Being state into the Becoming state.

What is Your New Identity?

• “I am a Writer.”

• “I am a philosopher.”

• “I am a filmmaker.”

• “I am a teacher.”

• “I am an electrician.”

• “I am a great parent.”

• “I am an athlete.”

• “I am a martial artist.”

When you embrace your new Identity, then you act differently, behave differently and engage enthusiastically. Habits are like compound interest, building up every day and compounding for your better self.

ACTION PRACTICE:

First, decide who you want to be. Write it down clearly and decisively. Put it on a piece of cardboard. You might also laminate the card for durability - and also because this New Identity means so much that the card - and YOU - are worth the extra effort. It’s not just a piece of paper that can be lost or tossed or dismissed.

Put the card in places where you can see it and repeat it

• Bathroom Mirror

• Wallet or Purse - when you open it.

• Car - (reminder in traffic like “I am a calm and peaceful person!”)

• Notebook -

• TV - A friend of mine puts it over the TV, repeating OUT LOUD the New Identity rather than watch the commercials.

• Business Cards - One friend had new business cards made - getting psychologically ready for the day when they actually get paid in this New Identity.

Second, prove this to yourself with your actions and habits every day. Write down one to three actions that this new Photographer, Professor, Parent, Martial Artist, Writer, Inventor etc., is taking every day toward this New Identity.

SOURCES:

Ontology - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontology