Be the Kind of Person Who Has a Relationship with God

Neither James Clear nor Andrew Huberman addresses the topic of habits with a Christian interest. They’re speaking in terms of behavioral science, but with a worldview that affirms objective reality and meaning. That is enough common ground for us to ‘plunder’ their insights.

So, in a recent Huberman podcast, Clear, author of Atomic Habits, shares a paradigm-shifting lesson about daily activities. 

For context, the question had been whether dissatisfaction is necessary to build a habit. Is the primary driver for starting a new habit that we are discontent with our current state?

In short, Clear says No. And then it gets fascinating! He says the healthiest way to form a habit is not outcome-based (i.e., the habit is strictly a means for some desired end), but rather identity-based (i.e., you are the kind of person who does the habit).

The transcript is lengthy, but hang with me. It’s worth it. He explains: 

In Atomic Habits language, this is what I call identity-based habits. Every time I show up and work out, I’m casting a vote for being the type of person who works out — for being an athlete, for being the kind of person who doesn’t miss workouts. And every time I cast that vote, I feel good about myself. I feel like I’m showing up as the kind of person I want to be. I’m reinforcing my desired identity.

This is one of the concepts from Atomic Habits that has resonated most with people. Rather than starting with the question, What do I want to achieve? What do I want to accomplish? you start with, Who do I want to become? And then you ask how your habits reinforce that identity.

Every action you take is like a vote for the type of person you wish to become. If you study for 20 minutes on a Tuesday night, you’re casting a vote for being studious. If you shoot a basketball for an hour [every night], you’re casting a vote for being a basketball player. Individually, those actions don’t mean much. But collectively — over three months, six months, a year — you cross an invisible threshold where you say, Yeah, this is a big part of who I am.

You [... are] that kind of person. And once it’s part of your story, you fight to maintain the habit. The situation flips: You’re not trying to motivate yourself anymore — you’re just being who you are.

I go for a run because I’m a runner, not because I have a half-marathon in three months. I do it because I like being this kind of person.

So the question What are my actions reinforcing? — How are my habits feeding my desired identity? — is a powerful one, and an important question for all of us to ask. (32:15–34:09)

Wow! Now we could apply this insight to every means of grace, but let’s focus on reading the Bible, in particular. Oftentimes, it’s easy for us to think about Bible reading as a utilitarian duty — it’s good for us, we know we should, great way to start the day, etc. We can motivate ourselves with all kinds of true things about the Bible and the benefits of reading it. But do they stick? Have they stuck? Is it a daily habit?

What if a better way is to simply understand yourself as the kind of person who reads the Bible daily? Or even better: you see yourself as the kind of person who has a relationship with God. Identity-based Bible reading, we might call it.

You’re not reading the Bible to get somewhere, but you’re reading it because of who you are! A Bible-reader, yes, but more than that, you are a child of God, and you love his voice. You hear him daily, and that’s just how you live. And, in the realism of Clear, you would say: “I like being this kind of person.” 

Read the Bible today because of that. And do it again tomorrow, and the next day, and again. And when the day goes sideways, and you’re tempted to skip, remember who you are.