The key to building lasting habits is focusing on creating a new identity first. Your current behaviors are simply a reflection of your current identity. What you do now is a mirror image of the type of person you believe that you are (either consciously or subconsciously).

If you believe that you’re incapable and insufficient for what lies ahead, you’ll likely exhibit behavior that aligns with those beliefs.

To change your behavior for good, you need to start believing new things about yourself. You need to build identity-based habits.

For example, if you want to be a stronger and healthier person, don’t start with trying to change your behavior. Start with your identity. Think of someone like The Rock and pick a few small wins a stronger and healthier person like The Rock might choose: exercising daily, not eating fast food, etc.

If you want to be a great writer: write every day, read a lot of books, etc.

Ask yourself, what would I do if I were this person? This bypasses your feelings and relies on the facts. Fact: The Rock would NOT eat McDonald’s.

If you just do that one thing differently you’re already becoming more like The Rock.

In Atomic Habits, James Clear writes that “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your identity.”