Mindset

November 25, 2023

Around this time last year, I was going through terrible depression.

I wasn’t going to the gym, eating healthy, or maintaining a proper sleep schedule.

I was addicted to cheap pleasures like video games and mindless social media consumption.

I was engaging in habits I didn’t even realize were detrimental, like playing 1-3 hours of video games a day.

I was also stuck in a job I hated, desperately wanting to break free from that cycle for months.

At the same time, I was researching ways to improve myself financially – exploring finance, real estate, and seeking profitable careers without a college degree.

The lifestyle I was living and my dreams didn't align.

I had the goals of someone with their life together, but my identity and actions reflected someone who was suffering.

I was motivated to change, but it wasn’t enough.

Motivation is useless. What you actually need is identity change.

Most people attribute their inability to pursue goals to a lack of motivation, but they have it all wrong.

You do have motivation; the desire for change proves it. You just don't act on it.

The Impact of Identity on Life's Outcomes

If you have the identity of someone out of shape, you will stay out of shape.

 If you have the identity of an athlete, you will eventually become one. 

If you have the identity of a broke person, you will remain poor. 

If you identify as someone with a high income, you will achieve it. 

It sounds easier said than done, but it truly isn't. The potency of identity lies in shaping thoughts and actions throughout the day, forming our life.

You already have an identity, whether you realize it or not. Your current habits, good or bad, stem from your identity.

Take, for example, a good student. What makes them one? They have the identity of a good student. (Not me) Good students stay up to date on assignments, study for tests, and attend class regularly – habits that define them.

What about someone with nice hair? If you identify as someone well-groomed (still not me), you'll adopt the necessary habits to maintain that identity.

See where I’m getting at here? When you’re the kind of person who does something, you don't need motivation. It’s just a part of who you are.

"Don’t change your diet to change your life, change your life to change your diet."

Adopt the beliefs and habits of the person who would do that thing without needing motivation.

Negative Beliefs and Excuses

Let’s talk about negative beliefs. "I can’t" and "I don't know how" are the worst things you can say to yourself. 

"Don’t set goals of what you think you can do, set goals of what you want to do." - Bob Proctor

If you think you can't start a YouTube channel, then, of course, you can't. You've sabotaged any chances by telling yourself you can't, feeding into that negative identity.

Your brain got you into this situation. It cannot be trusted. Trust the brains of people who have what you want and emulate them.

I recently had a conversation in my Discord about this. The individual kept making excuses about why he couldn’t start a YouTube channel, and one by one, I dismantled all of his limiting beliefs. There are no excuses.

Integrated Identity

You've been brainwashed to believe what you were told growing up and on social media. Especially on social media, observe the language people use. Every few months, there’s a new set of vocabulary adopted through the latest tik tok trend. I can instantly tell when someone is active on tik tok just by their vocabulary. And I don’t even use the app. 

Become conscious of this and take advantage of it. Stop being a mindless consumer online; become a researcher. Follow creators that have what you want in mind, body, spirit, wealth, charisma, and looks.

Choose someone and immerse yourself in their content and products to learn what they do and how it applies to their life. When you willingly surround yourself with positive identity, you will soon follow.

You cannot do this if you continue to be a mindless consumer. That's why I recommend, if you're using social media for self-improvement, create new accounts. Only follow people who serve you, and block anyone who will be a distraction. I did this with Hamza. I've watched probably 50% of his content and learned and implemented habits and behaviors I felt would benefit me.

It’s conscious consumption.

Build Your Identity With Habits

Once you've started researching your integrated identity, apply the knowledge learned to real life.

"The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I'm the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this." - James Clear, Atomic Habits

Form habits around the identity you want. Identity-driven habits focus on shaping your self-image and guiding your choices. Process-driven habits emphasize the skills and methods to perform tasks effectively, while goal-driven habits are the driving force behind achieving specific outcomes.

If you look at the graphic, you'll see that identity-driven habits are at the core. This is because you need to start with the desired identity to find habits that lead to the right results.

So, let’s say you're trying to become a YouTuber. Most people think you need to start with a goal. What you actually need is to develop the identity of a YouTuber. Then you can form goals from that. What kind of goals align with that identity? Then you develop systems that will get you to those goals. What are the daily tasks and habits that will get me to that goal?

Reflect on your current identity and habits. Are they in alignment with your aspirations?

If they aren’t, you should know by now what you need to do.

Remember, change begins with a conscious choice to decide who you are.

So start taking steps towards who you want to become.

That is all for this week. I hope you enjoy your weekend, and happy belated thanksgiving. 

-Abraham