I’m going to change this time. This time I will follow through. Have you ever said these words to yourself? Chances are, if you are someone like me who struggles with anxiety and overthinking, those words turned into I’ll start tomorrow, maybe next year, or some other excuse. Maybe you did go through with it- good for you! Just to give up the habits it took to get there as soon as you reach your goal and suddenly you’re back at level zero. You are not alone - so many people have been there before including myself. I’m going to tell you about a more successful way to accomplish your goals using this simple outline: identity, process, and outcome.
Before you begin, let’s address why people often give up before they even start - the goal isn't achieved immediately. Now, the point of following this outline is to make real, second nature-like change. To build amazing habits that will benefit you even after you reach your goal. You won’t always have motivation and that’s okay - learning to have discipline whilst also knowing your limits and when to take a break will get you farther than motivation will.
Identity
Your identity is made up of judgments about yourself and others. This step is to dive into who you want to become and to shift your identity by changing your beliefs. One way to do this is by acting as if you already are that person. For example, if my goal were to lose weight, I would shift my identity to I am a person who works out. I love to workout. I am a person who eats healthily. Think of this as using affirmations. Having strong identity beliefs allows the habits you will build to become part of who you are rather than something completely dependent on seeing results.
Process
Now, think of what the daily routine of the person you want to become would look like. Let’s look at my example again; if I were a person losing weight, some habits I’d want to have are:
I go for a 20 minute walk everyday.
I workout at least 5 times a week.
I eat less junk food and more food that is high in nutritional value.
Looking at habits you already have that affect you negatively can also be useful. If I were a person losing weight some habits I’d want to stop are:
Eating out everyday.
Identifying myself as someone who “isn’t a sporty person.”
Eating out of boredom.
The goal during the process is to make slow progress, not to meet your outcome in a set amount of time. You do not have to go all in at once, making slow progress is better than giving up because you burnt yourself out. Be both consistent and patient with yourself.
While in this phase, you should also shift the energy around you by surrounding yourself with supportive people and a productive environment. By being consistent, you will find the habits coming easier and you may even find yourself enjoying them which will make it easier to maintain the goal you worked so hard to achieve in the future.
Outcome
Finally, you’ve reached the outcome. This is where all of your hard work and discipline will pay off, and you’ve achieved your goal. It’s important to keep in mind that just because you have results doesn’t mean you can stop the habits you’ve built- unless you're okay with losing your progress. Here is another example; if you were to play the piano and stop practicing for two months, you would likely need to take time to build back up to the skill level you had before. This could even result in giving up completely. With that being said, consistency is your best friend in designing the life you desire.
I hope you find this strategy to be as helpful for you as it was to me. Remember that taking any action at all toward a better you is admirable. Even by clicking on this article you are showing that you have a desire to improve yourself. Everyone here at SpreadTheLove is cheering you on; take care of yourselves and I wish you the best of luck in achieving your goals- I know you can do it!
Sources:
“Atomic habits: An easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones” by James Clear (book)
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