“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” — James Clear
Earlier this week, I reflected on Atomic Habits as a framework for transformation — how James Clear helps us see that big change comes not from huge resolutions but from tiny daily actions compounded over time.
The biggest takeaway for me was: Big change doesn’t come from big resolutions—it comes from small, faithful steps. Habits like journaling, walking, or mentoring compound over time to shape character, growth, and legacy.
This week, I want to move from theory to practice. How have I begun to apply these principles in my own life and leadership? What habits have I strengthened or reshaped as I seek to live faithfully, lead effectively, and finish well?
Clear gives us a simple but profound framework: the Four Laws of Behavior Change. Let me share how each law has come alive for me — not in abstract principles, but in lived practices that continue to shape my journey.
1️⃣ Make It Obvious – Cue and Clarity
“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear
Every habit begins with a cue. If you want to build a habit, you must make it obvious.
For me, the clearest illustration is my journaling and morning devotion practice. I began journaling 45 years ago, but the first five were not as disciplined as I was using an undated notebook. I then started using an A5 diary with a page for each day. My entries are structured around Scripture reflection, prayer, daily planning, and review.
By keeping my journal and Bible commentaries on my study desk, I make the cue obvious: the first thing I reach for in the morning is not the newspaper or email, but Scripture and journal. This ensures that my first act of the day is time with God — meditation, prayer, and planning.
📖 Benefits of this habit:
- Keeps short accounts with God.
- Brings discipline in time use.
- Acts as monitoring & evaluation (daily, weekly, monthly, and annual reviews).
- Builds a record of God’s faithfulness over decades.
👉 This aligns with Clear’s principle: don’t depend on willpower, design cues. By making the tools of devotion visible, I anchor my day in what matters most.
2️⃣ Make It Attractive – Motivation through Reward
“We need to make our habits attractive because it is the expectation of a reward that motivates us to act.” — James Clear
Clear notes that we are more likely to stick with habits when they are bundled with something enjoyable. He calls this temptation bundling.
For me, the best illustration is walking + audiobooks. I have long enjoyed walking 8–10 kilometers three times a week. But two years ago, I began using Audible, an audio-book App. Suddenly, walking was not just exercise — it became an opportunity to read.
By pairing the discipline of movement with the joy of listening to great books, my reading multiplied from just 2–3 books a year to 23 in the first year alone.
🎧 Walking became irresistible because it was no longer just about health; it was also about learning.
Another relevant example is the role of community. Clear observes that we adopt the habits of those around us. I have seen this in two fellowships that have shaped me:
- A group of 18 FOCUS former staff and spouses, colleagues from 40 years ago, who meet quarterly in our respective homes. Several are now bishops, professors, or senior leaders. Titles fall away, and fellowship reinforces faith and accountability.
- A circle of four families who journeyed together from student days, raising our children side by side. We still meet quarterly, celebrating milestones and standing with one another.
👥 These groups remind me that belonging reinforces behavior. Peer pressure can be positive. Clear is right: join cultures where your desired behavior is the norm.
3️⃣ Make It Easy – Reduce Friction
“Habits are formed based on frequency, not time.” — James Clear
Clear insists that the easier a habit is, the more likely it will endure. Start small, reduce friction, and apply the Two-Minute Rule: scale habits down until they can be done quickly and consistently.
For me, this has been crucial in two areas:
🎤 Consulting and Facilitation
In my consulting work, I often facilitate high-level strategy events. One practice I’ve adopted is this: after every assignment, I identify one thing I can improve next time. I become my strictest critic, always seeking growth.
Sometimes, I am given assignments that stretch me beyond familiar ground. Instead of avoiding them, I research, learn, or observe others who excel. In this way, I master new skills step by step — a living example of Clear’s principle that mastery comes from repetition, not perfection.
✍🏾 Writing
As I slow down and pivot from consulting into reflecting and sharing with others, I’ve learned to lower the bar. Instead of waiting for long blocks of inspiration, I begin with the smallest action: write one sentence in my daily journal of ideas I would like to share out. By reducing friction, I turn occasional writing into a sustainable practice.
👉 Clear is right: success aligns with habits suited to natural strengths, but it is sustained by consistent practice.
4️⃣ Make It Satisfying – Reinforcement and Accountability
“What is immediately rewarded is repeated. What is immediately punished is avoided.” — James Clear
The final law reminds us that habits last when they are rewarding in the moment. If a habit feels satisfying, it sticks.
For me, this is where tracking comes in. I keep records of what matters:
- 📅 My tasks, written in my journal and carried forward until completed.
- ⚖️ My weight, using a reliable blue-tooth-enabled scale daily, which sends the data to an app that monitors and analyses records.
- 💰 My finances, tracking monthly income and expenditure.
This habit of reviewing the previous day before starting a new one provides immediate feedback. It is deeply satisfying to see progress — whether in health, stewardship, or productivity.
I also extend this to mentorship. By tracking not only my own progress but also the milestones of those I mentor, I find joy in their growth. Their success becomes reinforcement for my own consistency.
👉 Clear’s insight holds: immediate rewards keep us going. For me, the satisfaction of seeing progress — on paper, on a scale, or in the life of a mentee — reinforces the habit and ensures continuity.
🧭 Why This Matters Now
We live in an era of instant gratification and chronic distraction. Goals alone are not enough. Resolutions collapse without systems.
Atomic Habits has reminded me that lasting transformation comes from:
- 🌱 Small, faithful actions.
- 🏗️ Systems stronger than willpower.
- 👥 Communities that reinforce identity.
- ✅ Feedback loops that make progress satisfying.
It is easy to chase big visions but neglect daily disciplines. Yet history shows that destinies are shaped not by dramatic decisions but by daily habits.
📜 Final Reflections
James Clear is right: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.”
For me, the votes I cast each day — through journaling, walking, writing, mentoring, and tracking — are shaping the person I want to be:
- A man of faith and integrity.
- A disciplined leader.
- A steward of influence.
- A mentor who multiplies others.
Small habits, faithfully practiced, are teaching me that real change is both possible and sustainable.
📢 Next in the Series
📘 Emotional Intelligence: Why EQ Often Matters More Than IQ — lessons on mastering the inner world and leading with empathy.
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