James Clear Quotes

“You have to live with your mistakes, but you don’t have to compound them. To follow up an error with a foolish reaction is to lose twice. Given the reality of where you are right now, what is the best next action? A wise response may not erase a dumb mistake, but it can redeem it.”
James Clear

“Imagine there is a small version of you and a big version. When you are playing small, your behavior is timid, you feel less than, and you are often surrounded by people and projects that drain you. When you are playing big, your behavior is confident, you feel motivated, and you tend to be investing in people and projects that energize you. How can you spend more time playing the big version of yourself this year?”
James Clear

“Pay attention to how readily people talk themselves out of things—and be wary of adopting the same narrative. People will often try to convince you their limiting beliefs should become your own. They do not. Find your own ceiling.”
James Clear

“If you want a recipe for unhappiness, spend your time accumulating a lot of money and let your health and relationships deteriorate.”
James Clear

“Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself. Life is easier when you expect a lot of yourself and little of the world. High standards, low expectations.”
James Clear

“One of the most unexpected gifts you can receive is an early loss: Missing out on a job you really wanted; Trying a business idea that fails; Suffering a heartbreak. An early setback can become the catalyst for a wonderful next chapter—if you channel the emotion effectively. Disappointment is a hot burning fuel. Let it light your fire to become better.”
James Clear

“You probably don’t want maximum effectiveness. For example, the most effective way to make money likely requires a lifestyle you don’t want to live. Instead, you want the most effective path that fits your desired lifestyle. How do you want to spend your days? Start there, then optimize.”
James Clear

“Exerting more effort doesn’t help if you’re on the wrong trajectory.

– Working harder on the wrong thing just wastes more time.

– Learning more from a biased source will lead you further from the truth.

– Doubling down on a toxic relationship only sets you up for more headaches.

Before you try harder, make sure you are walking a path that leads where you want to go.”
James Clear

“For each headache you face, ask yourself, ‘Is this mostly real or mostly imagined?’ Solve the real problems, release the imaginary ones.”
James Clear

“Your relationships will rarely be healthier than your self-esteem.”
James Clear

“Explore life from a position of power. When you believe, ‘Even if I stay single, I’ll still have a great life‘… then you are in a much better position to enter a relationship. When you believe, ‘Even if I don’t get into this school, I’ll still have a great life‘… then you are in a much better position to apply. When you believe, ‘Even if I don’t succeed with this business, I’ll still have a great life‘… then you are in a much better position to give it a try. Sure, you may want the relationship to work or the business to be a success—and you should give it your best effort—but also realize that if it doesn’t work out, you’ll be fine. There are many ways to live a great life.”
James Clear

“Think about something you are facing right now. Have you been trying to think your way to a solution or act your way to a solution? Sometimes you need more action, sometimes you need a better strategy.”
James Clear

“You’re more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don’t merely try harder, try differently.”
James Clear

“Work hard. If results depend on effort, then you will carry yourself far. If results depend on effort and luck, then you will have done what you can to influence the outcome. And if results depend on luck alone, then the outcome is random, but you will have won the battle with yourself.”
James Clear

“One sign you haven’t done enough reading is if you find yourself agreeing with whatever book you read last. At first, it’s easy to be swayed by any reasonable argument. Once you’ve read a lot, you can see that even the best arguments have limitations.”
James Clear

“The question is not: will today be a good day? Every day is a good day. The question is: how much good will you get out of today?”
James Clear

“Many people assume they are bad at writing because it is hard. This is like assuming you are bad at weightlifting because the weight is heavy. Writing is useful because it is hard. It’s the effort that goes into writing a clear sentence that leads to better thinking.”
James Clear

“It’s hard to build momentum if you’re dividing your attention.”
James Clear

“Highly focused people do not leave their options open. They select their priorities and are comfortable ignoring the rest. If you commit to nothing, you’ll be distracted by everything.”
James Clear

“You can be relaxed and dedicated. Just because you worry more, doesn’t mean you care more.”
James Clear