Atomic Habits – A Book Review

Are you a goal setter? As a Christian, the ability to set and accomplish good goals is vital; goals help us grow in all areas of life and make sure we keep the main things of life the main thing. Goals help us grow, physically, mentally, financially, in our career, relationally and most of all spiritually.

Years ago BHAG or Big Hairy Audacious Goals was all the rage. Don’t get me wrong we should have big goals. But the problem is we tend to set big goals without the systems in place to accomplish them. I discovered the hard way that small, daily actions mattered more. I found I can actually get more stuff done when I create and focus on small habits done consistently every day. This is why I was attracted to James Clear’s book. He focuses on creating systems that better facilitate completing goals. The thought is, instead of focusing only on your goals, you focus on creating systems (small atomic habits) that will keep moving in the right direction.

Clear describes the backbone of his book as a four-step model of habits – cue, cravings, response, and reward – and the four laws of behavior change that evolve out of these steps.

“It is so easy to overestimate the importance of one defining moment and underestimate the value of making small improvements daily” – James Clear

Quitting Bad Habits

Clear also focuses on getting rid of bad habits If you don’t’ stop bad habits they will constantly consume the energy you need to have good ones. 

“Sometimes success is less about making good habits easy and more about making bad habits hard…The best way to break a bad habit is to make it impractical to do. Increase the friction until you don’t even have the option to act.” – James Clear

For each of his four laws of making good habits Clear details the inversion of each law in order to break your bad ones

A System of Atomic Habits

Clear presents a very detailed and doable system to limit the repeating of bad habits and repeating good habits. With Clear’s ideas you can create a system of atomic habits

“The secret to getting results that last is to never stop making improvements. It is remarkable what you can build if you just don’t stop…. Small habit’s don’t’ add up. They compound.” James Clear

Good habits done consistently will lead to a greater success in completing big goals. Clear encourages the reader to have big goals but put more energy into creating the daily systems /and actions that will lead to your goal. It is less likely to get overwhelmed and discouraged when you focus on atomic habits. It is also easier to get back on track whenever you stumble.

Whenever I need to work on my goals I will keep Atomic Habits close by.

Let me know in the comments how you are doing on your goals. What is your biggest struggle achieving your goals?

Also, if you would like for me to review your goals to help you create good systems, I would be glad to help. I make no claims on being an expert and I have nothing to sell. It can be good to get another person to take an outside look to bring focus to the things we want to achieve. I would be glad to help if I can. You use my contact form or click here to send me an email

“Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the process that leads to those results.” – James Clear

Click here to Get a copy of Atomic Habits

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About the Author: Jon Stallings

I am enthusiastic about helping others discover their purpose and grow into a deeper relationship with Jesus. It is great to see their eyes light up at their “Ah Ha!” moment when they discover they were created for something more. My hope is that this blog will help encourage and inspire you along your way. Join the conversation and take the time to share with me your own story. I have been married to my beautiful wife Janice for over 30 years. We currently live in McDonough Georgia with our daughter. Our two boys have left the nest and we have two wonderful grand kids. Of course we cannot forget about our dog Bear.