January 12, 2020: Perspective Blog
January 12, 2020
More from James Clear’s book Atomic Habits…
Bamboo is hardly visible for the first five years, as it builds an extensive root system underground before exploding 90 feet in the air in six weeks.
In the same way, habits often appear to make no difference until you cross the critical threshold and unlock a new level of performance.
The challenge of building new, good habits is to keep going when the results are not immediate. (He calls this a “Valley of Disappointment.”)
Habits need to persist long enough to break through to the “Plateau of Latent Potential.”
Change can take years – before it happens all at once.
Reflecting recently on my teens/twenties, I see that I did develop some good habits, from which I still reap blessings today:
Reading and studying the Bible
Seeking wise mentors and godly friends
Praying
Aiming always to be learning and growing
Reading
Listening to inspiring messages
Learning to serve other people.
During my twenties, someone once told me that I was a bit “flaky.” By the grace of God, the above habits have brought me stability and joy!
