As I continue reading James Clear's *[[Clear - Atomic Habits|Atomic Habits]]*, I've completed chapter two. I find myself seeing things that make a lot of sense from both a productivity standpoint as well as a theological one. Perhaps, I'll come back to theology on this at some point as it's a very fresh thought that needs some noodling on. Chapter two has Clear explaining the "things we change." He makes the claim that many times we are struggling to develop new habits, or even complete things in our lives because we've placed the focus on the wrong things. In my own life and work, I've frequently found myself looking to achieve the outcome, and as such I've attempted to put systems and ideas into place that lead to those outcomes. He points out that there are three layers to any behavior change and if we want to make lasting change we should consider the order in which we attempt the change. 1. Outcomes - these are the things we want to achieve. A good example of focusing on the outcome is weight loss. A person knows they want to lose 20 pounds, and so they start trying to run or exercise or eat healthier. Focusing on the outcome here may achieve the desired result, but how long until the person ignores the plan and the weight returns? 2. Process - the systems and routines that we have in our lives that make our days run. Following the example of weight loss, a change at this level would be something along the lines of building a system to track days at the gym and going to the gym more than not. This is more likely to last than simply focusing on the outcome. By building the system and routine into the person's life, they find it easier to continue. 3. Identity - the beliefs and worldview about everything, but especially the "self." This is where the biggest shifts and change can happen. Rather than pushing to achieve a result, and even better than building routines, changing the mindset from "I want to lose weight" to "I am a healthy person" has the desired affect of weight loss, but also builds that identity so that it is more likely to continue even than just someone who builds a routine. He uses a great analogy to consider the shift with someone trying to stop smoking. There's a stark difference between "no thanks, I'm trying to quit" and "no thanks, I'm not a smoker." Both are trying to quit smoking, but one has rejected their past identity as a smoker and is moving on to better things. This is where I got held up, how do I change my identity? It's not just something you decide one day. Except, it kind of is. Clear offers that identity is both "who you are" as well as "who you want to become." If I start to think of myself as a blogger (which I want to be) then it's ultimately much easier to sit down and just write a blog post. It doesn't happen overnight, there isn't just a magic switch that flips in our psyche, or *nous* to use the Fathers' language. Rather our behavior is a reflection of our identity, and the more we repeat a behavior the stronger we reinforce that identity. Now, keep in mind, this works both ways for the good and the bad. As we begin to reinforce the identity of who we want to become the behaviors to do that become easier as the two begin to grow into alignment. We begin to act by nature in ways that match who we want to be because "we're just being who we are." Finally, I find it very refreshing to consider that who we are is not set in stone; we're not inflexible; we're not locked into who we accidentally became in college (thank God.) We can choose to change, we can choose to go a different direction, and we can become who we want to become. Clear gives two simple steps to this process: 1. Choose who you want to be 2. Prove it to yourself with small wins and actions That's it. Decide, and then start doing the littlest things that begin to produce a feedback loop in your life that reinforces your identity and pushes you closer and closer toward who you are.