“Your identity emerges from your habits.” – James Clear, Atomic Habits.
Hi! This is Ephraim, the writer of this article. I have some short ideas about self-improvement based on my perception and experiences, and I hope I can provide you with new insight on this topic!
The first step to accomplishing positive results in yourself is to acknowledge your desire to change. Why do you find yourself in an undesirable situation? Why is it that you act a certain way? It is your choice to determine whether change is right for you. It is not about motivation, but rather the intrinsic values that are rooted inside you: ambition, self-respect, and cultural identity. The reason why you seek change is personal and specific to you. Everyone has their own unique experiences that shape who they are.
Habits are the result of solutions our brains create to solve perceived problems, sometimes becoming almost automatic. When you are feeling bored during public transportation, you reach for your phone. Whenever you enter a room, you reach for the lights because it’s dark. Our brains are conditioned to repeat an action that would provide an acceptable solution to a given problem, whether it would be beneficial in the future or not. Some habits aren’t necessarily harmful, while others can be detrimental years later in the long run. We can think of habits as a general process that occurs over time. Psychologists call this the Habit Loop: cue, craving, response, and reward. We can try to change and adjust our habits throughout the loop, whether it would be through rewarding yourself with your favorite playlist after going to the gym or locking your phone somewhere outside our room when studying. The point is that habits can be changed within these four parts of the habit loop.
Habits shape your identity. Change what you do so you can change who you are.
Understanding that mistakes happen is essential to one’s growth as a person. Nobody is perfect, and accepting imperfection is nothing to be ashamed of. Just remember what you’re fighting for in day-to-day life, and don’t be discouraged. It is not short-term motivation that carries you to the finish line, but rather the lasting disciplinary system of habits you create for yourself. Being content despite these imperfections can bring you a long way, especially when you think long-term.
I’m currently reading a book called Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s a really awesome book, and I would recommend it. I applied some of these ideas in this article, so they might be familiar to you. Of course, this is all subjective to your own interpretation.
