Here’s the thing…

If you try to change your habits by focusing on the behaviours themselves, you will more than likely not find lasting change. And the habits won’t internalize. They won’t become part of you.

Trying to create a new habit as the CURRENT version of yourself often ends in failure. 

We are relying on motivation and willpower alone. The problem is that when we have a bad day, we don’t get enough sleep, we start to feel overwhelmed, etc., we miss a day of our habit and we lose the consistency required to form a habit.

The future version of you, who is living the life you want to live, has already adopted these habits. It’s how she got to where she is now.

So, here’s the trick… In order to have real, lasting habit change, you work on becoming the identity of your future self.

Show up as her. Identify with the future version of yourself and that those habits aren’t new things you’re trying to add to your routine, they are simply part of who you are.

It looks like going from “I’m going to get a gym membership and new gear and start being healthier”

To

“Movement is just part of my day. I can’t live without moving my body each day because it makes me feel so good. When I feel good, I’m able to put in my best work, show up for my family and get shit done.”

In the book Atomic Habits, James Clear says “The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this.

True behaviour change is identity change. You might start a habit because of motivation, but the only reason you’ll stick with one is it becomes part of your identity. Anyone can convince themselves to visit the gym or eat healthy once or twice, but if you don’t shift the belief behind the behaviour, then it is hard to stick with long-term changes. Improvements are only temporary until they become part of who you are.”

It’s a decision that’s already been made— just part of you are. There’s no question, no routine you have to start. It’s just what you do in order to maintain that life you love living.

If you’re looking to make any changes to your habits, you first must start by focusing on your identity. 

Ask yourself if the habit you want to change is a habit that your future self would already have. If you’re a person who hates going to the gym currently but has decided you want to exercise more you need to change that identity.

Your current identity is not someone who goes to the gym so you probably won’t be able to stick to that habit. But if you change your identity to someone who likes to go to the gym already, loves living a healthy lifestyle and enjoys movement and exercise then going to the gym is naturally a part of who you are so the change becomes easier.

So, the number one secret to real, lasting habit change is to focus less on the habits/behaviours themselves and instead focus on changing and aligning your identity to become the person who already does the habit you’re striving for.

XO,
Meagan & Sarah

P.S. Are you looking to live a more intentional life? Grab a free copy of the Intentional Month Planner to kick-start your journey to a more intentional life and manifesting your dreams.