When you think of habits you’ve successfully adopted, how would you say you did it?
It may be difficult to answer this!
If no specific process comes to mind, it probably boils down to the fact that certain habits are just easier to change or adopt than others.
But why is this?
This is because habit change has three layers to it: behavior, beliefs, and identity.
And you need ALL of them working together to make a habit stick.
So, let’s explore all three layers so you can finally get that breakthrough you’ve been wanting!
Layer #1: Behavior
Behavior is basically the surface, and it’s also where New Year’s Resolutions go to die.
That’s because an “I’m gonna floss every night for the rest of my life starting tomorrow!!!” on its own just isn’t enough.
When we do this, we’re basically committing to something with only willpower in our toolbelt.
And using willpower by itself can be a grueling, frustrating process since we only have so much of it!
Sure, there are ways to increase willpower, but it’s far from a foolproof system.
So, trying to white-knuckle our behavior into permanent change is futile, UNLESS we dive deeper under the surface to give our desired habit a little something extra that makes it stick.
Layer #2: Beliefs
Let’s say I want to start working out 5 times a week because it’s important to my health and I know I “should.” So, I make the commitment and I show up every day for 5 days.
HUZZAH! RIGHTEOUS! BAM!
Kinda feels like I’m in the clear and that this trend will continue on its own…. Right?
WRONG! [Studies show](https://studyfinds.org/new-habits-lifestyle-changes-7-weeks/#:~:text=The poll of 2%2C000 British,failed to keep them up.) that the average person only keeps a habit going for 7 weeks!!!
This is because our beliefs play a huge role in our habits.
So, here I am, trying to work out 5 times a week, but my beliefs look like this: “I have to work out SUPER hard for AT LEAST an hour to see results,” and “I don’t know what I’m doing,” and “I’m so busy, I don’t know if I even have time for this.”
Now, compare that with someone who has beliefs like these: “I can make working out fun for me by choosing a type of movement I enjoy,” and “When I get stuck, I can watch a YouTube video to make sure I feel confident with these moves,” and “My schedule is picking up next week, so I better shorten my workout on those days to have time for everything.”
Who’s more likely to self sabotage?
That would be me. And it’s a shame; I was really looking forward to those bangin’ triceps!
Layer #3: Identity
If behavior change alone is where habits go to die, then identity change is where they come back to life and rock yo world.
Changing a part of your identity automatically changes your beliefs which makes changing your behavior a breeze!
And the quickest, most effective hack for this is to visualize yourself as you would like to be.
Yes, it is THAT simple.
This is because our subconscious brain is where habits are formed.
And although this part of our brain doesn’t do too well with language, it DOES understand imagery and emotion.
So, if you do nothing in the way of habit change except spend 5 minutes a day intensely imagining what it will look like and feel like to have your desired result, you will hack your brain into accepting this change rather than resisting it through self-sabotage.
This means behavior change will become MUCH more likely to last.
Next week, we’re going to go even deeper into this with 5 Steps to Transformation!