“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at the stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much a crack showing in it. Yet, at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it-but all that had gone in before”
……………….. Jacob Riis; Social Reformer.
Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.
Atomic Habit isn’t a book focused on just breaking bad habit, but a book that presents systems and approach that can help you build great habits.
It presents a long-term approach that, if followed, can hand you the result you seek.
Mastery requires patience.
So, what are the keys points of good habit formation that this book presents?
1) Forget goals and focus on systems instead: Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.
2)There are three layers of behavioral change.
i) Identify; your belief, worldview, self-image, and your judgement about yourself and others.
ii) Process; this level is concerned with changing your habits and systems. Implementing new routine.
III)Outcome; this level is concerned with changing your results.
Focus on the first two will bring about more lasting change compared to when the focus is on outcome alone.
3) Building or breaking habit occurs in 4 scientific steps
Cue——-Craving—–Response—–Reward.
Understanding this will help you appreciate triggers and how reward can help established or close the feedback loop and complete the habit circle. Rewards make you repeat a habit.
Laws of good Habit formation;
1) Make it obvious
2) Make it easy
3)Make it satisfying.
How to break a bad habit;
1)Make it unattractive
2)Make it difficult
3)Make it unsatisfying.
The book shows you how to find and fix the causes of your bad habits, how to stop procrastinating by using the two-minute rule, how to automate a habit and never think about it again, how to turn instant gratification to your advantage and how to stick with good habits every day.
One thing I like about this book is the ability of the author to shift focus from the stress and pain of forming good habit to the fun part and joy good habits bring.
Just a reminder as I round off and I will be quoting the book;
“Mastery requires practice. But the more you practice something, the more boring and routine it becomes.
. The greater threat to success is not failure but boredom.”
Atomic Habit is worth the read. From cover to cover, the discovery and insight makes it a fulfilling read.
I highly recommend, especially for beginners in personal development.
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