21 Inspiring Atomic Habits Quotes

This blog will have a series of inspiring quotes from the book Atomic Habits by James Clear.

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What is James Clear communicating to us in Atomic Habits?

In a nutshell, Atomic Habits is about how to create good habits and break bad habits. As stated on the cover, ‘Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results,’ we expect we will not learn to transform all our habits overnight. But, we can eventually experience remarkable differences in our lives with consistent small changes.

The first quote I want to share from Atomic Habits is an endnote Clear wrote in the Appendix. This quote is a beautiful summary of the meaning behind ‘Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results.’

“We change bit by bit: This is another reason atomic habits are such an effective form of change. If you change your identity too quickly and become someone radically different overnight, then you feel as if you lose your sense of self. But, if you update and expand your identity gradually, you will find yourself reborn into someone totally new and yet still familiar. Slowly–habit by habit, vote by vote–you become accustomed to your new identity. Atomic habits and gradual improvement are the keys to identity change without identity loss.”

Compiling Atomic Habits quotes

To gather this list, I read Atomic Habits on my Kindle Scribe, where I can highlight and take notes. With the Kindle Scribe, you can send a pdf of all your highlights and notes to your email. It’s so interesting to see the summary of your thoughts and what you found to be compelling or important as you read.

Identity-based habits

We can learn multiple strategies to create good and break bad routines in Atomic Habits. For me, the identity-based habits that Clear talks about resonated the most. 

Here are some quotes throughout the book that relate to identity-based thinking.

“The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this.”

“The process of building habits is actually the process of becoming yourself.”

“Your identity emerges out of your habits. Every action you take is a vote for the person you wish to become.”

“The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do.”

“The identity itself becomes the reinforcer. You do it because it’s who you are and it feels good to be you. The more a habit becomes part of your life, the less you need outside encouragement to follow through. Incentives can start a habit. Identity sustains a habit.”

“Decide the type of person you want to be. Prove it to yourself with small wins.”

Here are a few examples of identity-based habits:

Instead of a goal to be on time to work, you want to be a person whom others can count on. You are a reliable person.

Instead of vowing to yell less at your children, you want to be the type of parent who teaches your children through patience and by being a good example.

Instead of having a goal to put away baskets of clean laundry, be the type of person who respects and appreciates what you have to wear.

Why do we want to have a habit-building strategy?

For me, striving to curtail my bad habits and build good habits instead is something that keeps me from going too many miles off the rails. If I don’t think about who I want to be or what I want from life, I know I will accomplish nothing more than watching tv all day. Perpetuating harmful habits and not stretching myself to grow good habits, I’m sure I’d find myself in a very low place.

Everyone has their reasons for wanting to upgrade their habits. Figure out what yours are, and you’re ahead of the curve.

Here are a few Atomic Habits quotes that reflect why many people are driven to do what they do.

“We are drawn to behaviors that earn us respect, approval, admiration, and status.”

“When you binge-eat or light up or browse social media, what you really want is not a potato chip or a cigarette or a bunch of likes. What you really want is to feel different.”

“The road less traveled is the road of delayed gratification.”

“If you’re willing to wait for the rewards, you’ll face less competition and often get a bigger payoff. As the saying goes, the last mile is always the least crowded.”

Whether we are inspired to behave in a certain way to gain respect and approval, experience a feeling of relief, or see the potential of future gains, something is driving us. If you can continually loop back to the deeper meaning behind your actions (identity-based habits, as described above), the better chance you’ll have of becoming the person you want to be.

How can we change bad habits and create new good habits?

James Clear’s Atomic Habits book explores the science behind habits and provides practical strategies for creating positive change. Clear will give you the framework to develop and maintain good habits while minimizing or eliminating bad ones.

Here are some great Atomic Habits quotes that align with the strategies James Clear teaches.

“If you can make your good habits more convenient, you’ll be more likely to follow through on them.”

“It’s the frequency that makes the difference.”

“Much of the battle of building better habits comes down to finding ways to reduce the friction associated with our good habits and increase the friction associated with our bad ones.”

“Redesign your life so the actions that matter most are the actions that are easiest to do.”

“Make it easy to start and the rest will follow.”

More Inspiring Atomic Habits Quotes

“You don’t have to build the habits everyone tells you to build. Choose the habit that best suits you, not the one that is most popular.”

“It’s more productive to focus on whether you are fulfilling your own potential than comparing yourself to someone else.”

“Being curious is better than being smart. Being motivated and curious counts for more than being smart because it leads to action.”

“This is a continuous process. There is no finish line. There is no permanent solution.”

“Resisting temptation does not satisfy your craving; it just ignores it. It creates space for the craving to pass.”

“Your expectation changes your satisfaction.”

“Each improvement is like adding a grain of sand to the positive side of the scale, slowly tilting things in your favor.”

Summary

In conclusion, atomic habits are small, consistent actions that compound over time and lead to remarkable transformations.

These Atomic Habits quotes are powerful reminders that our habits can unlock our full potential to enhance our lives.

I hope you found this to be helpful and inspiring.

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