Last time, I talked about the importance of identity and self-image when creating new habits.
Asking the big question "Who do I want to become?" is fundamental.
How we see ourselves in the future will make it easy in the present to work on those new habits.
But just thinking about it is not enough. Crafting an identity takes work.
Many times we don't know where to start. So here are a few exercises that have helped me.
First, if you already have a result in mind, like "Becoming a writer", think about what makes a writer? What are the activities and routines that writers do? Research your favorite writers. What were they doing when they were starting out? Chances are that they also struggled to become who they are now.
Second, if you are not sure about the identity you want to craft, you can create it by thinking deeply about your ideal day. Take a piece of paper or a calendar, and write down hour by hour what your ideal day looks like. Once you're done your new identity will become clearer.
My ideal day starts with stretching, writing for 90 minutes, and running. Then I love to read, have lunch with family. Afternoons are for shallow work and meetings. Evenings for play and reading.
Putting these activities on my calendar has helped me craft my future vision of becoming a writer and a runner.
Follow this process and your identity, results, and processes will become clearer.