Guess who just had a holy shit A-ha moment reading, Atomic Habits by James Clear, life-changing kind of moment? Oh, yeah me!!!
I’m on chapter 2, chapter 2 people!!! This book has freaking nuggets of knowledge because chapter freaking two just blew my mind and probably the rest of my life. The chapter is about how habit change is really identity change. Holy fuck.
I always have problems with creating new habits. I don’t stick to a routine, I don’t stick to a diet, I don’t keep coming to the morning workout class. You name it. I always thought it was because I get bored, which I do.
But, it is really because I don’t see myself as a meditator when I meditate. I don’t believe I’m an athlete when I work out and eat. Especially this last one. I always want to look lift and workout because I do, but I never feel like I am/look the part.
And, don’t get me wrong, I've heard a similar concept to this before. Like if you want to be said person, you need to act like them now. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have. You totally get the picture.
Today, for me, it has never been so clearly said and actually clicked in my mind. Logically, I get it. I never thought about becoming the person you strive to be, had to do with your daily habits, and how the small habits are the ones that are going to get you to where you want to be.
As I said earlier when it comes to losing weight and feeling like I'm physically fit, which for me seems like I'm always doing or trying to do on the daily. I work out often, but I always feel like I don't look/act the part.
Apparently, it's because I never believe I am in that role of being an athlete or someone who is fit. So, then my daily habits coincide with that thought of I'm not physically fit so screw it, I'm having ice cream and not having a protein shake.
The lack of me looking, feeling, not being where I want to be physically is because I'm not saying in my head I'm an athlete so then I'm not fueling my body properly. I’ve been saying I want to lose weight, so I need to “eat right”.
I have never ever, ever, ever considered myself an athlete, even when I played sports. I am an asthmatic with average abilities and hand-eye coordination. I was always third string, with no hope of moving up. So, thinking I'm an athlete and training like one has never been on the table.
This really hit me in the feels when I read this quote from the book: “The more deeply a thought or action is tied to your identity, the more difficult it is to change it.”
I’ve never felt like an athlete. This is 38 years of identifying as someone who doesn’t have abs, as someone who doesn’t care about lifting, someone who doesn’t need to care about diet because I don’t need to care because only athletes or people in the fitness industry do that. And, it's an industry I want to get into more, but I always put this roadblock up like you can’t be a personal trainer because you aren’t fit. It seems like I've been putting the cart before the horse.
Whereas my thoughts need to be, I am a personal trainer so I do the things a personal trainer does. I eat the right foods, go to all the workouts, etc. I need to start seeing myself today as an athlete/trainer and become that by doing the small habits that will get me to the place I want to be.
This seriously blew my freaking mind. I can’t wait to read the rest of the book. I’m only 40 some pages in and it feels like I just had a lifelong breakthrough, especially as someone who struggles with healthy habits.
My New Bff
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