Habit Stacking, Squats, and Transformation

Inspired by my re-reading of Atomic Habits by James Clear, I decided to taste what it would be like to “habit stack.”  According to Clear, habit stacking occurs when you attach a new habit to an old, well-ingrained habit. It’s all about finding the easiest way to reprogram your brain. So I decided to try doing 10 supported squats after moisturizing my face.

I could hear the tendons in my knees stretching over all the crunchy cartilage and fat and cornflakes and bubble wrap and chicharrones and what ever else is all up in there. Gripping the towel bar on the wall for dear life, I was terrified that the poor things would snap and my life as a walking citizen would be over.

After that, I was like, “HAHAHAHA! Yeah, wellp, that’s a good way to discourage me from moisturizing.”

I realized, if I forced myself to do this thing I hated, I would just train myself to hate it more. Sure, habit stacking works, but if it’s going to lead me to a happier life, I need to teach myself to like doing squats, too.

Here’s a silly, but kinda profound fact: you already have the life you want right now. Your life, just the way it is now, is serving you in all kinds of ways. Or, to be precise, it’s serving your current mindset, fears, and ambitions. Because your brain is a magical computer that is so efficient at running a program once it’s installed, it prevents even the user from changing the programming without deliberate effort.

In other words, it’s not enough to want to do something different, and it’s not even enough to do something different. The only way to feel genuinely well and content within a life change is to become the type of person who lives the life you aspire to live.

How can I help you become the kind of person you want to become?

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be completing the final modules of Stand in Your Truth. For those who want to transform, that’s a good place to start.

But you know me–I want to go deeper. My ears are open, and I’m listening. Let me know how I can serve you.

Love,

Folkmother Sage