HABIT CHANGE + IDENTITY: How to Change Who You Are So You Can Change What You Do

I blend right in... Nobody can see me. Photo by Chris Greenhow on Unsplash

In a previous post, I outlined six reasons why New Year's Health Resolutions (and most habit changes) fail.

In this post, I'm going to delve into further details about one of those reasons - Identity Shift - meaning that in order to change your habits, you actually need to change who you are.

Wait!

Don't click away because you think that sounds SUPER SCARY and hard; I promise you I'm gonna break it down and make this SUPER EASY to understand and apply, ok?

FIRST, MINDSET: Wrap Your Head Around This

DOING something different involves BEING different.

You can't take a new action as the old you; in order for lasting change to occur, you actually have to change who you are.

Lasting change - and that's the key here - LASTING - because we can all do something for a little while - involves a shift in identity; you need to be able to see yourself differently if you want any change to stick.

Any goal that's not in line with the way you see yourself will fail because the action will be "something I'm doing" versus "someone I am."

DOING: I eat vegetables every day.

BEING: I am a healthy eater.

How do you change the way you see yourself? (That's the million dollar question, isn't it?)

Answer = BABY STEPS.

Consistently take very small steps in the direction you want to go.

The purpose of baby steps is to watch yourself succeed so you can feel confident in taking on new challenges.

But baby steps are also a great way to sneak up on your subconscious.

SECOND, ACTION: How to Sneak Up on Your Subconscious

See, when you try to make a change that's too big - aka too far from your current identity - you'll have a relapse, a rebound, a CHANGE-BACK attack.

Your subconscious mind won't accept huge shifts in behaviour; it will put up a fight because whatever change you're trying to make is too far from your current identity.

It will say – "NO, THIS IS NOT WHO I AM!" – and go back to doing the same old, same old. (Maybe you're familiar with this pattern?)

So you gotta sneak up on your subconscious like you would to Bambi in the woods.

"There, there little subconscious, don't worry, all is well, I'm just gonna take this little tiny baby step over here....

What?

No, we're definitely NOT expecting ourselves to be a totally different person overnight... That would be crazy...

We're just going to do this one tiny little thing..."

I'm skittish; tread lightly. Sneaking up on your subconscious. Photo by Julie Marsh on Unsplash

Your subconscious mind will accept small shifts in behaviour without putting up a fight; that's why baby steps are crucial.

In order to change what you do, you have to change who you tell yourself you are; you have to change the image you have of yourself in your mind.

Because once your identity is in line with the behaviour you're trying to implement, then no effort is required; this thing you're doing is just who you are.

CONCLUSION

If you want to change your behaviour, you have to change your identity.

In order to change your identity, you have to employ baby steps, one at a time, to cause that shift to happen.

Taking care of your health - or doing anything at all - becomes effortless when doing the things which are good for you become a part of who you are.

BEING versus DOING.

You can only change your behaviour by changing your identity through consistently winning at taking baby steps.

Because... no IDENTITY SHIFT = No CHANGE.

So, who do you want to be?

And what are the baby steps you need to take in order to get there?

Remember, I'm skittish... I will run away if you don't approach gently. Photo by Scott Carroll on Unsplash

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