Atomic Habits by James Clear – Quick Book Overview

atomic habits book image

Bad habits aren’t very manly.

We know this to be true yet we all fall prey to them from time to time…..some of us more than others.

We can change. We can get better.

I follow James Clear very closely. I read his work every day. I consider him to be one of our great thought leaders and a man that can help me overcome myself and live a better life.

His recent book, Atomic Habits, is a powerful read for anyone looking to advance their station in life and finally break free from the life-limiting habits so many of us seem to have.

Here is an example of what you will find in Atomic Habits, written by James Clear himself……

Identity-based habits

One of the central ideas in the book is the concept of building “identity-based habits”, which essentially recommends focusing on the type of person you wish to become rather than the outcome you wish to achieve.

One reader named Roland used the idea to improve his eating habits.

“I stopped eating unhealthy food via identity change,” he wrote. “I tried many times in the past, but it became easy — natural — only after I had made the conscious decision that I want to be someone who eats healthy. Instead of aiming for I want to stop eating bad food, I tried changing the mindset to I am someone that eats healthy and lives a healthy life. It changes how you approach things.”

Another reader named Robert employed this idea to help him quit smoking. He wrote, “I recently stopped smoking and the difference between I don’t smoke and I can’t smoke is a powerful trainer of my brain. The positive message of I don’t smoke is that I have not “given up” anything. I am not sacrificing a pleasure. I am investing in my future happiness and wellbeing.”

Like most strategies in the book, the concept of identity-based habits can be combined with other habit building tactics. For instance, one reader used an external reward of $10 to reinforce the desired identity. “I told myself, I am no longer a drinker. Then, after each day of non-drinking, I gave myself $10 to buy something nice rather than poison (like clothes and household items). Today, I no longer need the allowance and I’m six years sober.”

Chapter 2 of Atomic Habits covers these strategies in much greater detail.

This is but a small sample of how people are making significant changes in their life and James Clear is the man helping them do it.

This book will be on our recommended reading list as soon as we get it on the site!

I hope you decide to pick it up. Habits are damaging and hard to break, there is nothing wrong with getting a little help.

See more HERE

Onward!

 


Steve Miller

Entrepreneur, Sales and Marketing Consultant, Mental Toughness Adviser, student of Self-Mastery. Founder at The Manly Club website, leader of The Manly Club Facebook Group with over 15,000 members. Outdoor enthusiast, weather buff, muscle car lover, cabin nut. Loving life up here in the PNW (Oregon) with my beautiful wife and two young sons.

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