Once we have determined our preferred identity and set the habits we must adopt to align with our desired self, the “Habits Feedback Loop” becomes relevant. Understanding this loop can help us to intentionally shape our habits.
The habit feedback loop is not a one-time occurrence but a cycle that repeats over time. With repetition, the loop strengthens, making the habit more automatic and ingrained in our behavior. Positive reinforcement and a sense of satisfaction reinforce the habit, making it more likely to be repeated in the future.
(Duhigg, 2013; Clear, 2019; Wood, 2019)
Change your habits using the Habits Feedback Loop
By manipulating the different stages - Cue, Craving, Response, and Reward - we can effectively establish new habits or break existing ones.
Establish new habits
Break bad habits
The two most important things
Consisteny > Intensity
Developing or changing habits requires a significant amount of time. We have learned that habits are formed through consistent repetition of the feedback loop. Therefore, consistency and repetition are vital until the new behavior becomes an automatic pattern.
Success is what you avoid
Stop trying to be so good. Maintaining consistency just with small steps becomes easier when we refrain from striving for perfection or being excessively focused on achievement.
(Bush, 2020; Carter, 2021)