Building better habits and achieving your goals is not just about what you do, it’s also who you are. The key to success is thinking like the person you want to become. Enter identity-based habits: forge a new identity that mirrors your desired habits and goals.
Table of Contents
What Are Identity-Based Habits?
Everything we do is a mirror-image of who we are, and this identity can be conscious or subconscious. For example, you may have the habit of going to the gym three times a week because a part of your identity is being fit.
This identity can break or make you. As James Clear puts it in his book Atomic Habits: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” If you want to become fit, but you constantly fail to exercise and eat fast food regularly, you’re voting on being an unhealthy person with you actions. Your (subconscious) identity clearly doesn’t match with your desired identity.
So, identity-based habits are behaviors you do because of who you are. To change your behaviors, you need to change who you are (your identity).
Outcome-Based Habits Versus Identity-Based Habits
To understand the differences between outcome-based habits and identity-based habits, it’s important to know at what levels changes in behavior can occur. Behavioral change can happen on three different levels:
- Outcomes. This level focuses on the results of your behavior, like losing several pounds.
- Processes. This level is all about your systems and habits, like going to the gym three times a week.
- Identity. This level focuses on your self-image, beliefs, and biases.
Outcome-Based Habits
Most people set goals with an outcome in mind, like “I want to do 100 push-ups.” To achieve this goal, you may start with 5 push-ups and slowly work towards 100. These are called outcome-based habits.
Though it can work in some cases, goals like these are hard to reach because you primarily focus on the results, not the process or identity associated with achieving these results.
Identity-Based Habits
James Clear suggests another direction: start with your identity, and then move outward towards processes and outcomes. In the same example as above, you’d first create the identity of a strong and fit person.
What would someone like that do? They go to the gym regularly and continuously push themselves to get better (processes). This will inevitably lead to results, even if they are small wins, making you a strong and fit person in the process.
You don’t go to the gym to get to 100 push-ups, you go to the gym because that’s who you are. That’s the power of identity-based habits.
Why Identity-Based Habits Work
The reason identity-based habits work well is because tying your habits and behaviors to an identity creates intrinsic motivation. Your actions align with your values, making them feel natural and logical as well.
It’s also helpful in the long run, as an identity is enduring, contrary to individual actions. Even if you have a rough patch, as long as your identity stands firm, you’ll lean towards your desired behavior. This makes long-term transformation more likely than with outcome-based habits.
The 3-Step Process to Build Identity-Based Habits
Step 1: Define your desired identity
First think about who you want to become. Perhaps you’re currently overweight and have a bad diet. Instead of creating a goal of losing 10 pounds, make it a goal to become a healthy person. So, being a healthy person becomes your desired identity.
Step 2: Start with small, consistent actions that reinforce this identity
Next, think about small actions you can take every day or every week that reinforce this new identity. In the case of a healthy person, it’s taking 10,000 steps every day and quitting fast food, for example. Make these actions habits by applying helpful systems, like the 2-Day Rule and habit stacking.
Step 3: Reinforce the identity by celebrating progress
Every time you vote for being a healthy person with your actions, celebrate it! You’re reinforcing your new identity with (small) wins and you’re steadily becoming the person you want to be.
Challenges & Solutions
When you start using identity-based habits, you may encounter some challenges. We’ve collected the most common challenges and their solutions to help you overcome them.
Self-Doubt
When you start out, it’s common to feel self-doubt, as you’re growing into a new identity that’s foreign to you. To combat this, track small wins, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Once you see evidence of your progress in becoming whatever you choose as an identity, your self-doubt will decrease.
Letting Go of Old Identity
Our brains like to be consistent, so saying goodbye to an old identity and embracing a new one will likely lead to some mental resistance. Use affirmations to help you let go of your old identity.
These affirmations are highly dependent on the identity you choose. “I am working every day on becoming stronger” may be a great affirmation for someone who has always identified as weak but now wants to become fit and strong, for example.
Consistency
It’s important that your actions are consistent to forge a new identity. To help yourself stay consistent, surround yourself with people who already embody the identity you aspire to. Say you’re trying to become a writer, join a book club to naturally envelop yourself in the writer identity.
Another solution is to build habits that are easy, obvious, attractive, and satisfying. We’ve got plenty of resources to help you out, so take a look at our habits section to get started.
Examples of Identity-Based Habits in Action
So far, we’ve primarily focused on fitness goals, but identity-based habits can be used in a wide variety of cases. Let’s view some of them as inspiration.
Work
Identity: “I am a proactive professional.”
Habit: At the end of each workday, you spend five minutes planning your priorities for the next day.
Why it works: This habit reinforces the belief that you are organized and proactive, setting you up for success by starting each day with clarity and focus.
Health
Identity: “I am someone who prioritizes my well-being.”
Habit: You choose to walk for 10 minutes after lunch every day, regardless of your schedule.
Why it works: This small, consistent action aligns with the identity of someone who values their health and shows commitment to integrating wellness into daily life.
Financial
Identity: “I am a mindful spender.”
Habit: Before any non-essential purchase, you pause to ask yourself, “Does this align with my financial goals?”
Why it works: This simple practice reinforces the mindset of intentional spending, helping you build habits that support financial stability and long-term goals.
Conclusion
Identity-based habits are a powerful tool to reach your goals and improve yourself. Through forging a new identity, you’re able to consistently act the way you want.
To get started, I encourage you to pick one area of your life where you want improvement and redefine your identity in that area. Start small, with a couple of actions, and reinforce your new identity.
Who do you want to become? Take the first step today and start your transformation!
