Each of us has our own dreams of becoming wealthier and healthier. This is a goal we all share. Every person wants to see results, but the truth is: your bank account reflects your financial habits, and your weight reflects your eating habits.
Disclaimer: This article heavily draws on insights from James Clear’s interview. Many of these ideas are his, and while I paraphrased his points, the core concepts come from him. I hope this avoids any issues with plagiarism.
It's a harsh truth, isn’t it? We often think we need to change the results themselves, but the real need is to change the habits that led to these unsatisfactory outcomes. Your habits reinforce a particular identity, which can be either positive or negative.
Each of us has an internal story we tell ourselves. My story was: "I’ll never be wealthy unless my income hits a certain level," which made me ignore other reasons for my lack of wealth—like my spending habits.
For others, this story might be: "I was born this way" or "I'm bad at remembering people’s names." With every experience that aligns with that story, the story becomes more ingrained until it shapes your identity.
James Clear put it perfectly: “Every action you take is like a vote for the type of person you want to become.”
He goes on to say: “If you can master the right actions and the right habits, you can start casting votes for this new identity, this person you want to be.”
Some may find this perspective harsh, that our habits are the main reason for where we are in life. To me, it’s empowering—now I know I have control over my future, my health, and my wealth, because I have control over my habits. It would feel unfair if I couldn’t change anything, but thankfully, I can.
Small habits won’t transform your life overnight. Doing just one push-up, for instance, won’t change your body, but it casts a vote for being the kind of person who doesn’t miss workouts.
It all boils down to what James Clear said in his incredible book, Atomic Habits: “The real goal is not to run a marathon; the goal is to become a runner.”
Changing your results takes time because you first have to change your habits. When your habits change, your identity shifts, and when your identity changes, the results naturally follow.
So, if you dream of becoming healthy and wealthy, ask yourself: What habits do I need to change?
