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James Clear Quote on Happiness and How It’s About Absence Not Achievement

    “Happiness is simply the absence of desire.  When you observe a cue, but do not desire to change your state, you are content with the current situation.  Happiness is not about the achievement of pleasure (which is joy or satisfaction), but about the lack of desire.  It arrives when you have no urge to feel differently.  Happiness is the state you enter when you no longer want to change your state.”

    James Clear, Atomic Habits

    Beyond the Quote (94/365)

    People think becoming invincible is impossible—I’d like to argue to the contrary.  How do we become invincible?  By freeing ourselves of desire.  As soon as a want is created a vulnerability is exposed that can be leveraged—by others or even your own mind.  Think about this in the context of a negotiation.

    Read More »James Clear Quote on Happiness and How It’s About Absence Not Achievement

    James Clear Quote on The Importance Of Systems For Success

      “You do not rise to the level of your goals.  You fall to the level of your systems.”

      James Clear, Atomic Habits

      Beyond the Quote (Day 8)

      Before the start of every competition, it’s safe to assume that every competitor has the same goal—to win.  And yet, not all of them do—only one person wins.  Is it the case that the person who wins has a bigger desire to win than the rest? Possibly, but not indefinitely. It is certainly the case that people with greater desires to win have lost. Size of desire, in and of itself, is not the difference maker in winning and losing. So, what is?

      Read More »James Clear Quote on The Importance Of Systems For Success

        “Success is not a goal to reach or a finish line to cross.  It is a system to improve, an endless process to refine.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

          “Your actions reveal how badly you want something.  If you keep saying something is a priority but you never act on it, then you don’t really want it.  It’s time to have an honest conversation with yourself.  Your actions reveal your true motivations.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

            “Being curious is better than being smart.  Being motivated and curious counts for more than being smart because it leads to action.  Being smart will never deliver results on its own because it doesn’t get you to act.  It is desire, not intelligence, that prompts behavior.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

              “Can one tiny change transform your life?  It’s unlikely you would say so.  But what if you made another?  And another?  And another?  At some point, you will have to admit that your life was transformed by one small change.  The holy grail of habit change is not a single 1 percent improvement, but a thousand of them.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                “Habits deliver numerous benefits, but the downside is that they can lock us into our previous patterns of thinking and acting—even when the world is shifting around us.  Everything is impermanent.  Life is constantly changing, so you need to periodically check in to see if your old habits and beliefs are still serving you.  A lack of self-awareness is poison.  Reflection and review is the antidote.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                  “I can guarantee that if you manage to start a habit and keep sticking to it, there will be days when you feel like quitting.  When you start a business, there will be days when you don’t feel like showing up.  When you’re at the gym, there will be sets that you don’t feel like finishing.  When it’s time to write, there will be days that you don’t feel like typing.  But stepping up when it’s annoying or painful or draining to do so, that’s what makes the difference between a professional and an amateur.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                    “Really successful people feel the same lack of motivation as everyone else.  The difference is that they still find a way to show up despite the feelings of boredom.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                      “The greatest threat to success is not failure but boredom.  We get bored with habits because they stop delighting us.  The outcome becomes expected.  And as our habits become ordinary, we start derailing our progress to seek novelty.  Perhaps this is why we get caught up in a never-ending cycle, jumping from one workout to the next, one diet to the next, one business idea to the next.  As soon as we experience the slightest dip in motivation, we begin seeking a new strategy—even if the old one was still working.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                        Atomic Habits [Book]

                        Atomic Habits by James Clear
                        By: James Clear

                        Book Overview: No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.  If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

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                          “Genes can’t make you successful if you’re not doing the work.  Yes, it’s possible that the ripped trainer at they gym has better genes, but if you haven’t put in the same reps, it’s impossible to say if you have been dealt a better or worse genetic hand.  Until you work as hard as those you admire, don’t explain away their success as luck.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                            “The people at the top of any competitive field are not only well trained, they are also well suited to the task.  And this is why, if you want to be truly great, selecting the right place to focus is crucial.  In short: genes do not determine your destiny.  They determine your areas of opportunity.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                              “The secret to maximizing your odds of success is to choose the right field of competition.  This is just as true with habit change as it is with sports and business.  Habits are easier to perform, and more satisfying to stick with, when they align with your natural inclinations and abilities.  Embracing this strategy requires the acceptance of the simple truth that people are born with different abilities.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                                “We focus on working long hours instead of getting meaningful work done.  We care more about getting ten thousand steps than we do about being healthy.  We teach for standardized tests instead of emphasizing learning, curiosity, and critical thinking.  In short, we optimize for what we measure.  When we choose the wrong measurement, we get the wrong behavior.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                                  “It’s not always about what happens during the workout.  It’s about being the type of person who doesn’t miss workouts.  It’s easy to train when you feel good, but it’s crucial to show up when you don’t feel like it—even if you do less than you hope.  Going to the gym for five minutes may not improve your performance, but it reaffirms your identity.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits

                                    “The brain’s tendency to prioritize the present moment means you can’t rely on good intentions.  When you make a plan—to lose weight, write a book, or learn a language—you are actually making plans for your future self.  And when you envision what you want your life to be like, it is easy to see the value in taking actions with long-term benefits.  We all want better lives for our future selves.  However, when the moment of decision arrives, instant gratification usually wins.  You are no longer making a choice for Future You, who dreams of being fitter or wealthier or happier.  You are choosing for Present You, who wants to be full, pampered, and entertained.  As a general rule, the more immediate pleasure you get from an action, the more strongly you should question whether it aligns with your long-term goals.” ~ James Clear, Atomic Habits