James Clear

There are some areas like shooting a bow where that is, the connection is quite obvious, but there are other areas where for whatever reason, we don't see it as clearly, but I think the pattern is still there, which is let's adjust the habits. Let's get this machine running in a more fluid fashion. And you'll find that the results kind of come naturally.

I think just appreciating that helped rewire mindset a little bit. I was so focused on outcomes and goals for a long time and now realizing that actually the way this is driven is with the system. That helped me shift from what I would say now is like goals are for people who care about winning one time.

I think just appreciating that helped rewire mindset a little bit. I was so focused on outcomes and goals for a long time and now realizing that actually the way this is driven is with the system. That helped me shift from what I would say now is like goals are for people who care about winning one time.

You set a goal to run a half marathon and you train for three months and you do it and you complete the race. But then maybe you stop training after that. But systems are for people who care about winning again and again. And if you care about sustaining that success, then you're like, I'm a runner.

You set a goal to run a half marathon and you train for three months and you do it and you complete the race. But then maybe you stop training after that. But systems are for people who care about winning again and again. And if you care about sustaining that success, then you're like, I'm a runner.

I care about the system that I'm building for how I train, how many miles I'm getting in, all kinds of other stuff. And whether I have a half marathon three months in the distance or not, It doesn't really matter because I'm going to be running my system either way. Making that mental shift, I think, can be useful for sustaining results.

I care about the system that I'm building for how I train, how many miles I'm getting in, all kinds of other stuff. And whether I have a half marathon three months in the distance or not, It doesn't really matter because I'm going to be running my system either way. Making that mental shift, I think, can be useful for sustaining results.

The original quote, I think it's from Archilochus, I believe a Greek philosopher, and said, you don't rise to the level of your expectations, you fall to the level of your training. And in Atomic Habits, I tweaked that or adjusted that to say you don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems. And so it's actually your habits that kind of create that baseline.

The original quote, I think it's from Archilochus, I believe a Greek philosopher, and said, you don't rise to the level of your expectations, you fall to the level of your training. And in Atomic Habits, I tweaked that or adjusted that to say you don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems. And so it's actually your habits that kind of create that baseline.

So it's interesting which meanings people pull out when they see it. So I chose the phrase atomic habits for three reasons. The first meaning of the word atomic is tiny or small, like an atom. And I do think habits should be small and fairly easy to do, especially in the beginning. The second meaning of the word atomic is the fundamental unit in a larger system.

So it's interesting which meanings people pull out when they see it. So I chose the phrase atomic habits for three reasons. The first meaning of the word atomic is tiny or small, like an atom. And I do think habits should be small and fairly easy to do, especially in the beginning. The second meaning of the word atomic is the fundamental unit in a larger system.

That's the one that people often overlook. Atoms build into molecules, molecules build into compounds, and so on. And your habits are kind of like that. Each little habit is like an atom in the overall routine of your day. You put them all together and you end up with your lifestyle or your daily routine.

That's the one that people often overlook. Atoms build into molecules, molecules build into compounds, and so on. And your habits are kind of like that. Each little habit is like an atom in the overall routine of your day. You put them all together and you end up with your lifestyle or your daily routine.

And then the third and final meaning is the one that you mentioned, the source of immense energy or power. And I think if you put all three meanings together, you sort of understand the narrative arc of the book, which is... Make changes that are small and easy to do. Layer them on top of each other like units in a larger system or atoms in a molecule.

And then the third and final meaning is the one that you mentioned, the source of immense energy or power. And I think if you put all three meanings together, you sort of understand the narrative arc of the book, which is... Make changes that are small and easy to do. Layer them on top of each other like units in a larger system or atoms in a molecule.

Collectively, you can get some really powerful or remarkable results. And so I feel like the phrase atomic habits not only encapsulates that kind of small change in the system that you're looking to build, but also the powerful results that can emanate from that.

Collectively, you can get some really powerful or remarkable results. And so I feel like the phrase atomic habits not only encapsulates that kind of small change in the system that you're looking to build, but also the powerful results that can emanate from that.

Two things before I unpack the idea a little more fully. First is, of all the ideas in the book, this is probably the least scientific. There are actually some studies, which I cite in that chapter, and it's not like there's no science behind it. But the majority of the book, I try to be very robust in the way that I was thinking about how do we build habits and what actually gets in the stick.

Two things before I unpack the idea a little more fully. First is, of all the ideas in the book, this is probably the least scientific. There are actually some studies, which I cite in that chapter, and it's not like there's no science behind it. But the majority of the book, I try to be very robust in the way that I was thinking about how do we build habits and what actually gets in the stick.

And there also are just a bazillion social psychology and cognitive psychology studies that illustrate a lot of the examples that I talk about. But this is more of a mindset, I would say, or a philosophy on how behavior change works. Second thing is, it's maybe the only unique idea that I have.