The identity Rewrite

- Scientific way to change your habits

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Have you ever tried breaking a bad habit out of motivation, how does it go>?

You commit, then you avoid for a day or two, and then boom! you are back on it. This is not something to be sad about, there's a deep reason behind why you are not able to change your habits, and that is because your direction of change and motivation are both weak.

I understood this concept from the book ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear, it talks about the difference between outcome-based and identity-based habits.

Outcome-Based Habits

• Focus: External results, such as losing weight, earning a promotion, or saving money.

• Direction: Works outside-in; you set a goal and create processes to reach it.

• Motivation: Driven by the desire for a specific achievement.

• Limitations: Often fail after the goal is reached or when obstacles arise, as they do not alter the underlying self-belief. Missing a step can feel like total failure, leading to quitting.

Identity-Based Habits

• Focus: Internal beliefs and self-image, such as “I am a healthy person” or “I am a reader.”

• Direction: Works inside-out; you define the desired identity and adopt behaviours that align with it.

• Motivation: Driven by the need to protect and reinforce your self-image.

• Advantages: Creates a powerful feedback loop where habits shape identity and identity shapes habits. They feel natural rather than forced, reduce decision fatigue, and increase resilience because missing a day is seen as a small slip rather than a character flaw.

Picture this, there are 2 guys who want to quit smoking, they meet their friend who is an active smoker, and then that friend offers both of them a cigarette, this is what they reply:

person 1 says - I am trying to quit smoking (Identity - trying, outcome-based)

person 2 says - I am not a smoker. (Identity- Non-smoker, identity-based)

You see? small statement, big difference.

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