Atomic Habits: Chapter 2

My goal with this book is to read through each chapter, and then post my reflections here. I’m not a pro on LinkedIn, but most posts seem to follow two themes: polished and candid. Mine will be candid, warts and all, because that’s who I am, and I hope that anyone who might read this will also prefer candor or see the value in it.

In the second chapter, James Clear pivots from talking about the “how” and “the process” of forming habits which determine goals/outcomes, to altering your identity to reinforce new habits or break old ones.?

The first chapter was a great introduction, but I liked this chapter better as it resonated with me deeply. It made me reflect on the last 5 years of my life, and the change I’ve seen in my personal and career growth.

Though this book is about habits, this chapter was clear that identity and belief systems are paramount not just to learning new habits, but to unlearning old habits. Because behind every system of actions is a system of beliefs. I looked to my own experiences earlier in life to see if this was true. In high school, when I first started running cross country and track, the initial stages of discipline were easy. Everything was fun, new, and I had a team of people around me for support. It wasn’t until I started training twice a day, and in almost any weather element that my disciplines became more challenging - held together by a single belief, “I am a runner.” As time went on, that belief became more specific. I am the runner that isn’t stopped by cold weather, snow, sleet, rain, lightning and thunder, heavy winds, or brutal heat. I am the runner that isn’t stopped by the things that stop you. And finally, at the starting line, I am the runner that has worked harder than you to be here. I was confident in my beliefs about myself and my abilities, and I could also look at areas of opportunity without letting my confidence fall apart.

Now, five years ago, I never would’ve imagined myself as a leader in any kind of sales or revenue organization. In fact, I was against the idea entirely. I did not like sales because I didn’t want to be “pushy”, and didn’t think I would have the confidence to be effective. I did not want to experience wild amounts of failure, and I definitely didn’t want to be responsible for inspiring, motivating, or caring for others. I wanted to work alone, I did not want to collaborate, I wanted to be responsible for myself only, to limit or predict my challenges as much as possible, and for my results to be mine. That’s the one hundred percent blunt and honest truth - I was stingy. However, I did want to grow and be successful.

The main problem with this was, in working alone and limiting my challenges, I was limited in every possible area of growth - stagnant. Again, I did want to grow, but every belief that I held about myself and the world put me into a small box with a tight lid. So, how did I go from understanding something so well as a teenager, to having no concept of it as an adult? One reason: my belief systems changed. I had tapped into something as an adolescent, and had no idea how far it could carry me in life if I had only transferred it into other areas.

In the fall of 2020, I was reading Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich”. In one of the first chapters, he challenges the reader to pick one thing with which they want to excel. I had recently started a leadership training position, so I chose leadership. I sat there at my desk, closed my eyes, and started to meditate on it. Then every previous reason I mentioned for not wanting to be in leadership started slapping me right in the face. I rolled my eyes, and I groaned because I knew the work that was in front of me. I immediately started doubting my decision, and became overwhelmed by all of the things I would have to learn. In hindsight, I would more correctly point out that I had more things to unlearn. Until I remembered all the obstacles I encountered as a runner for many years: the weather, the early mornings, eating right, breaking bones, tearing ligaments, the mud, the creeks, the hills, and even being chased by dogs on occasion.?

Once I remembered those things, I thought, “Well, if I can do that, I can do this. I’m going to be a leader.”

It has been challenging, but it has also been that simple.