Transforming Through Your Tiny Shifts

by Athirah Sofea

Many of us believe that achieving significant success demands substantial efforts. In truth, it’s the small improvements that accumulate into remarkable results. I came across this book called “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, a game-changer guide that challenges the idea of massive leaps, suggesting that improving yourself by just 1% each day can lead to profound transformations.

I realized that establishing habits demands both patience and consistency. The aim is to acknowledge your negative habits, systematically unlearn them, and substitute them with beneficial habits over time. When we are mindful of the influence our habits have on our lives, we can significantly enhance the quality of our lives.

While the idea of investing substantial effort might initially seem daunting, consider viewing significant tasks or changes from a different perspective. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, break down your objectives into smaller, more manageable goals. By doing so, you’ll soon find that your goals materialize before you know it. For instance, if your goal is to write a book, focus on composing just one page each day, and by year end, you’ll have completed 365 pages!

Clear suggests in his book that, instead of just setting goals, one should establish effective systems as they concentrate on the processes leading to the desired outcomes, after all, it is the systems in place that truly drive change. Additionally, you can also establish identity-based habits for lasting change. Behaviours reflect our identity, so decide on the kind of person you wish to become and prove it to yourself through small wins.

I would go on about James Clear’s framework on how to design good habits and eliminate bad ones, which I find very interesting and practical, but I will save that for the part two of this series. Big achievements start with small beginnings, each habit begins as a tiny decision. Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that shapes your progress.