Do You Have Identity-based Habits?

I’ve written about goal-setting in the past and I emphasize process orientation. Combined with a cognitive behavioral approach, process orientation moves individuals away from identifying too strongly with a goal. This approach gives breathing room for behavior change. This isn’t to say that goal identitfication is bad, nor is it to say that focusing on one’s identity should be frowned upon.

The consideration is to be mindful of problems that may occur when someone is so strewn into their identification that it negatively effects their ability to change behavior. Some people over-identify, or cling to an identification that doesn’t serve them with regard to desired change. In these instances, the individual can be guided away from identity. Giving some freedom and movement to allow for behavior change.

Once disengaged from a previously restraining identification, one can add new identifiers (and their accompanying habits) as the next step in their process. This tactic is noted in James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits,” where he explains the benefits of having identity-based habits. When your habits are identity-based, it’s like adding gravitas and glue to the behaviors you want to accentuate for higher quality living.

With this approach, identity and behavior are symbiotic. I like to look at it like this: there’s one tactic to make space…