26 Sep How Our Small Habits Can Make Us Happier Beings
I’m a pretty big fan of (advocate for) habits.
In fact, I’ve written and produced a whole series of audiobooks / podcasts focusing on how habits can improve our lives.
From “Habits for Happiness”, “Habits for Happiness at Work” and “Habits for Action” through to “Habits for Mastering Anxiety” and “Habits for Mastering Depression”, these audio series outline how anyone can apply the principles of positive psychology, cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance commitment therapy and other proven methods to feel better more often.
You can find them all HERE
But in the shorter term, for now, if you’re interested in developing healthier and happier habits, check out this Thrive Global article by Dr Tal Leead …
Each time you experience yourself behaving as the type of person you want to be, you reassure and reinforce that identity formation.
[… This] lays down the crux of what we call “self-perception theory,” first posited by Dr. Daryl Bem. The basic idea is that when you see yourself doing something, you figure “that is me.” Previous to this theory, scientists believed that self-knowledge drove behavior – that if we knew who we were inherently/internally, we could choose behaviors aligned with our thoughts, beliefs, values, etc. But Dr. Bem proved that our opinions about ourselves are formed exactly like our opinions about others – by judging our behavior.
[… This] is in part why, when you are often late but you do not see yourself as someone who is always late, it causes you greater stress when you are, once again, late. (In a sense, you experience what is called cognitive dissonance. In other words, your beliefs and thoughts about yourself are inconsistent with your behavior). Thus, your identity is driven by your actions, and your actions build your identity. As John Dryden brilliantly says, “We first make our habits, then our habits make us.”
[…] Forming your desired identity through habits is about taking action first – and that takes both courage and consistency. [It] is not about trying to feel your way into it, contemplating perhaps I will do it today, or else – I will try tomorrow. It’s about proving to yourself that you cannot only do it but that this is what you are doing. This is who you are. You are someone who is committed to optimizing your well-being, and in the process, you are becoming a Happier Being…
… keep reading the full & original article HERE