Atomic Habits

I remember when we received our first microwave growing up.  It was about the size of a mini-van and made as much noise as a NASA rocket.  But it cooked food fast.  One of the subliminal dangers of the modern day microwave is that it has now created the expectation that we can microwave everything. 

Subtly we have bought into the lie that money making, successful parenting, building friendships, becoming better at our jobs (and the list goes on) can be shoved into a box full of electromagnetic waves and cooked on high for two minutes.  This leads to a lot of frustration and exasperation as we fail to see change take place in the timeframe we desire.

In his New York Times best selling book Atomic Habits, James Clear helps us re-think the way we view and apply the principles of change in our life.

Clear writes, "It is easy to get bogged down trying to find the optimal plan for change: the fastest way to lose weight, the best program to build muscle, the perfect idea for a side hustle. We are so focused on figuring out the best approach that we never get around to taking action. As Voltaire once wrote, ‘The best is the enemy of the good.'"

The problem too often with change tactics in our life is that we’re so fixated on the product that we don’t give much credence to the process that gets us there.  In fact, often the only qualification for the process we use is…which one gets me to the destination fastest.  Clear helps us see that this approach will always and inevitably lead to failure.

Instead he writes, “When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don’t have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision."

Everyone wants change in his/her life.  And this resource is one of the best at tapping into how you can meaningfully begin (or continue) the process of change in your life not only by building new habits but learning to break old ones.

During the month of December our sending network (SEND) will host a 3-part online course for women entitled: "Transforming Rhythms".  Join dozens of other women from across North America as you dive into the topic of 'habits' and how to form healthy life rhythms using Atomic Habits. 

This 3-part class will be 1 hour per session and hosted by Tiffany Smith of the SEND Network (Thurs Dec 5, Thurs Dec 12, Thurs Dec 19 (1 hour each 12pm AST - 1pm AST).  Registration is free here.

I would highly encourage the women at Port City to take full advantage of this accessible and transformative resource.  It will be worth your time.