Big Change Starts Small
Illustration: Vecteezy
Clear helps us create a deliberate system for lasting positive change, instead of just white-knuckling our way through sheer willpower.
I have been thinking a lot about the mysterious, invisible world that governs every aspect of our physical reality, the weird and wonderful world of subatomic matter. I suppose my fascination started with the Pulitzer Prize–winning biography American Prometheus, which chronicles the life and times of J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb. Last year’s blockbuster biopic captured my imagination and prompted me to learn more about Oppenheimer’s role in shaping our world. No surprise it was nominated for 13 Oscars, winning 7 including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor!
The metaphor of the atomic world is the nucleus of today’s Leadership for Life top resource: Atomic Habits by James Clear. The title has multiple meanings. In order to make big and powerful changes in our lives, Clear argues that we need to make far smaller changes first, much like Martha Beck’s notion of one-degree turns. Such micro changes to our daily routines bear macro results over time, much the way compound interest turns small savings into a robust retirement over decades.
Clear helps us create a deliberate system for lasting positive change, instead of just white-knuckling our way through sheer willpower. The secret? Simply make aspirational habits Obvious, Attractive, Easy, and Satisfying. To break a bad habit, reverse the laws and make those habits Hidden, Unattractive, Difficult, and Unsatisfying. The genius of this system lies in how it works with—rather than fights against—our natural proclivities.
Perhaps I have such a strong affinity for Atomic Habits because it validates practices that have worked well for me both in the office and at home. I encourage you to read the book, try what resonates for you, and patiently watch the transformation. Or, if reading a whole book seems a bit too much at the moment, the author summarizes his transformational system in this engaging and enlightening interview. Either way, in my experience, unleashing the power of atomic habits will alter your reality after just a few months.
Atomic Habits by James Clear (Avery, 2018)