Friday Coffee with MAP - February 16, 2024

Hello, and welcome to Friday Coffee with MAP!

This week’s article continues our exploration of the adoption of habits. It’s February. We’re clear of Valentine’s Day. Our new years resolutions are now in their do-or-die stages, and we need to explore how we can make these beneficial habits permanent. To do that, we have turned to bestselling author James Clear, whose #1 New York Times-bestselling book Atomic Habits, is a highly recommended and hugely inspirational read. This excerpt from the book explores how– when it comes to building new habits– understanding the difference between outcome-based goal-setting and identity-based goals setting can make all the difference. As Clear writes, “Outcomes are about what you get. Processes are about what you do. Identity is about what you believe.”

Happy reading!

Identity-Based Habits: How to Actually Stick to Your Goals This Year
_{by James Clear}

Our habits are building blocks of our identities. So: to make a new habit stick, we have to make it a part of who we are.

Goals such as “I want to lose 20 pounds” or “I want to squat 300 pounds” are not identity-based goals. They are outcome-based goals, which provide an easier path to disappointment.

Changing your beliefs isn’t nearly as hard as you might think. There are two steps: First, decide the type of person you want to be. Second, prove it to yourself with small wins. Incremental changes provide a feeling of momentum and growth.

Choosing that new identity takes careful calculation. The power of choosing a new identity holds at any level—as an individual, as a team, as a community, as a nation. What do you want to stand for? What are your principles and values? Who do you wish to become?

For instance, say you want to lose weight. Change your identity to be someone who moves more, every day. Achieve the small wins of buying a pedometer, then walking an extra 100 steps per day. Then 200. Continue ratcheting up.

The identity-based habit approach forces you to become the type of person who can achieve the things you want to achieve. The identity comes first– the results can come later.

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So tell us: How would you like to change your identity to achieve your goals for 2024?

We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Have a wonderful weekend.

Thank you,

The MAP Team

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