Read This if You're Stuck in a Rut

📈 Good Habits Compound

Those of you that have followed Wisdom Made Easy for a while will know that James Clear’s Atomic Habits is one of my favourite books.

It’s one of my go-to book recommendations for anyone interested in building better habits, becoming more disciplined or general personal development.

One of the principles that James professes is that habits compound over time.

If you get 1% better every day, you will end up 37 times better in a year.

It’s one of the best ways to rocket to your potential.

Good habits help you to be your best version of yourself.

📉 Bad Habits Lead to More Bad Habits

The same can be said about bad habits; they compound too.

A bad habit, when repeated or built upon with another bad habit takes you to an even worse place.

It’s like you’re digging a hole whilst you’re standing in the hole. With each and every bad habit, you plummet deeper and deeper.

This is why we often find it challenging to get out of these dark places when we’ve been practising numerous bad habits for a while, right?

If you had been digging a hole that you’re stood in for a long time, the opening of the hole appears distant and small.

It’s difficult to imagine being out of the hole, so instead we just keep digging.

💡 But There’s a Way Out

I’m conscious that as you read this, you may be in a deep hole.

For some of you, reading “there is a way out” may be an unbelievable remark.

I implore you to approach this with a shred of faith that it could be true.

The way out starts with belief: believing that you can get out of the hole.

When we recognise that we are not destined to be in that dark place and believe that there is an alternative, we start identifying ways to live a healthier and happier life.

I find that James Clear’s writing on Identity Based Habits helps with this idea.

Identity Based Habits suggest that our behaviours are a reflection of who we believe we are, regardless of whether these beliefs are conscious or not.

This suggests that to change behaviours and implement new good habits, we need to start believing new things about ourselves.

If I’m trying to get myself out of that hole, I start identifying with someone who is out of that hole.

For example, I recently moved house, and during the stress of that season, I neglected my health in numerous ways:

• My diet was poor

• I wasn’t getting enough sleep

• I stopped exercising

• Journalling became a weekly occurrence instead of a daily one

After recognising that I wanted to identify with a happier, less stressed and healthier Michael, I started doing the habits that helped me to become that more positive version of Michael.

After a few weeks of a more balanced diet, consistent sleep and exercise routine, and a whole lot of journaling, I’m back to my usual self again!

I’m now out of the hole, looking back at it and thinking “I’m glad that I’m not stuck down there!”

I’m conscious that I am simplifying this approach, but you’d be surprised just how much this works! Consider reading James Clear’s writing on Identity Based Habits here if you want to try it for yourself.

👍 Recommendations

Here’s a couple of things that we think will complement this week’s newsletter and will help you to get wiser:

1️⃣ The first recommendation is to check out James Clear!

We’re a huge fan of his writing, with Atomic Habits being a catalyst for much of my personal growth.

If you want to read the first chapter for free, you can do so here.

And to join 10 million people that have read his book, you can buy it here:

2️⃣ Our second recommendation comes courtesy of a service that we habitually use: Publer.

We often get asked how we manage to post 30+ posts across 5 platforms every week, and Publer is our answer!

It makes social media scheduling manageable and helps us to reach 100,000+ people with ease.

To try for FREE, click here:

* Please note that these may be affiliate links. Purchasing through these links could support Wisdom Made Easy encourage more people to get wiser.

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😊 Thank You!

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Catch you in the next issue!

Thanks,
Michael and Zac!

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