Who do you want to be in 2024?
Hello 2024! I know, it’s already nearly February but I have a real resistance to New Year resolutions to be honest. I prefer to saunter into the New Year, pondering where I’ve been and where I am heading next, and despite what’s going on in the world, I actually have a good feeling about this year.
I feel optimistic about the future of humanity and about my own future. And it goes without saying that I want it to be the best ever year for you too. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t work to do, if we all want to show up in the world as the best version of ourselves! And it all starts with simple everyday actions; shifts in daily habits that will help you become the type of person you want to be in 2024.
The ‘science of small habits’ is a subject James Clear dives deep into in his best-selling book ‘Atomic Habits’ which I have literally just finished reading and was a fundamental inspiration for today’s blog.
Make daily habits your new BFF
Habits can be your greatest ally or your greatest enemy, depending on what the habits are and how these habits affect the outcomes you desire in your future life. The truth is that habits compound, and the end results of repeated bad habits may not be seen until it’s too late to change the negative outcome.
Having a generous slice of cake with your afternoon cuppa one day will have no visible lasting effect on your outward appearance, but consume the extra sugary calories every day, and a year later the scales might be telling you a different story! I know, I’ve been there too many times! Conversely, when it comes to good habits, patience and perseverance is needed, if you’re not going to succumb to demotivation when, for instance, results aren’t visible after a few days of working out at the gym. I love the way James describes this truth in Atomic Habits when he says that “time magnifies the margin between success and failure”.
When it comes to changing habits, it’s essential to focus on what you’re doing every day as you create a different trajectory to your new improved future. What you are experiencing today is a lagging indicator of past behaviours, so focus on repeating good decisions right here, right now and your current trajectory will deliver you the outcomes you desire. Don’t let your present results demotivate you, they’re just evidence of poor decisions in the past, and with the right commitments moving forwards, changes will come, it is inevitable!
Habit changing starts with you!
But why even talk about habits? What is the reason behind wanting to create new and better ones? Usually it’s because we want to make improvements in some area of our life and we have then decided on a specific goal. The weight loss journey is a good example. We have the desire to lose 10kg and we intend to implement new healthy eating habits and regular exercise habits to support us on this journey.
But the problem with trying to achieve results starting with the end destination is that we are not really taking into account who we need to be in order to make the right choices and stick to the good habits along the way. Unless we work on the person behind the scenes, so to speak, it is going to be a really frustrating journey, as the version of you who got you the results you are currently experiencing, is going to fight to remain in control. Conscious effort is going to be required if you want to be the person you need to be to make good choices and get better results – make sense?
If you can focus on changing how you perceive yourself and your role in the world, the potential for transformative change in your life is absolutely within reach. The fundamental beliefs you adhere to will drive your actions every day and if you do not change these, thought by thought, they may very well sabotage all your dreams and goals.
Vote for the 'you' you want to become
I am loving my new mantra.. “ Every choice I make and every action I take, is a vote for the kind of person I wish to become ” – kudos to Mr Clear for the inspiration for this one! Who do you want to blossom into in 2024? What choices will you make and what actions will you take to make this happen?
An important thing to remember when thinking about your habits, especially when it comes to trying to create and maintain new, supportive habits, is that repetition is the key to success. Repeated behaviour is evidence of the change you want to see in your life, and as such your belief in yourself grows stronger every day.
Final thoughts on embracing new habits.
I strongly recommend you to read (or listen to) Atomic Habits by James Clear if you want to dive deeper into the science behind small habits, and be inspired to make the changes you desire in your life from this day forward – it is a gold mine of valuable information and guidance on the subject. In the meantime, I will leave you with one last thought to reflect upon. When faced with everyday habitual choices that really don’t serve you, imagine that you are the person you want to become in the future and simply ask yourself …“What would future me do?”. Let that answer inspire your next steps and help you move closer to revealing to the world the new and improved version of you that is waiting patiently on the sidelines!
