James Clear Quotes

Mastery requires both impatience and patience.

The impatience to have a bias toward action, to not waste time, and to work with a sense of urgency each day.

The patience to delay gratification, to wait for your actions to accumulate, and to trust the process.

And I knew that if things were going to improve, I was the one responsible for making it happen.

We tend to imitate the habits of three social groups: the close (family and friends), the many (the tribe), and the powerful (those with status and prestige). One of the most effective things you can do to build better habits is to join a culture where (1) your desired behavior is the normal behavior and (2) you already have something in common with the group.

You do it because it’s who you are and it feels good to be you. The more a habit becomes part of your life, the less you need outside encouragement to follow through. Incentives can start a habit. Identity sustains a habit.

Define yourself by your effort, not your suffering.

Motivation often increases after you begin. The lesson is not to wish you had more motivation, but to make starting as easy as possible.

The sooner you make a choice, the sooner you can make an adjustment.

Working on a problem reduces the fear of it.

It's hard to fear a problem when you are making progress on it—even if progress is imperfect and slow.

Action relieves anxiety.

Powerful combination = Hate being bad at stuff + Willing to look like a beginner.

People who hate being bad at stuff are driven to improve. However, if they are unwilling to look like a beginner from time to time, they will avoid new challenges and struggle to reinvent themselves.

Meanwhile, people who are willing to try new things, but lack a thirst to improve will settle for mediocre results.

It's the willingness to look foolish for a short time—but not for a long time—that leads to jumps in performance.

Simple ways to have a peaceful moment:

• Close your eyes and just breathe for two minutes.
• Leave your phone in another room for an hour.
• Watch a cloud form and then dissolve.
• Stand in the sunshine and notice how it warms your skin.
• Light a candle and watch the flame dance.

Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

The ultimate form of preparation is not planning for a specific scenario, but a mindset that can handle uncertainty.

Redesign your life so the actions that matter most are also the actions that are easiest to do.

Stop waiting. Stop talking yourself out of it. Stop researching.

Go do it.

Good business advice I received early on:

When someone says no to a request, they usually mean 'not right now' or 'not in that way.'

Most people want to help others, but there are many priorities competing for our time.

Don't take it personally. Ask again later. Ask differently.