Abdelrahman Omran

Book Highlights — Some books stick with you, others challenge you, and a few do both. I’m using this space to capture highlights, ideas, and reflections—less a summary, more a mix of what stood out and why it matters (at least to me). Maybe it sparks something for you too.

This time: Atomic Habits by James Clear — a practical guide to how small changes lead to big results.

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The Fundamentals – Why Tiny Changes Make a Big Difference

1. The Surprising Power of Atomic Habits
2. How Your Habits Shape Your Identity (and Vice Versa)
3. How to Build Better Habits in 4 Simple Steps

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“Identity Change: The Root of Lasting Habits” A Distillation and Reflection

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🧠 Why Changing Habits Is So Hard

There are two main reasons habit change feels difficult:

1. We try to change the wrong thing
2. We try to change in the wrong way

Most people focus on the results they want (e.g. “I want to lose weight” or “I want to write more”), without thinking about who they want to become.

But behavior change happens at three levels, like the layers of an onion:

1. Outcomes – what you get (e.g. results, achievements)
2. Processes – what you do (e.g. routines, systems)
3. Identity – what you believe (e.g. values, self-image)

We usually try to change from the outside in — starting with goals and outcomes — but the real shift happens from the inside out.

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🔁 The Direction of Change Matters

Behind every system of actions is a system of beliefs.

You can set new goals or adopt new plans, but if you’re operating from the same identity (consciously or not), your habits will likely snap back to your old ways.

To create sustainable change, the focus needs to shift from what you want to achieve to who you believe you are.

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🧍 Habits Shape Identity — and Identity Shapes Habits

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you want to become.”

• When you make your bed, you’re voting for the identity of someone who is tidy.
• When you write every day, you’re reinforcing the identity of a writer.
• When you train regularly, you’re becoming someone who prioritizes health.

The more you repeat these small behaviors, the more they reinforce your sense of self. Habits are not just tools for productivity — they’re how we become who we are.

This is why one-time actions don’t stick. Kicking a soccer ball doesn’t make you an athlete. But training daily might.

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🔄 Identity Change Is a Gradual Process

• Change doesn’t happen in a snap decision — it unfolds bit by bit, through daily repetition.
• Each habit is like a small vote toward your evolving self.
• Over time, you undergo micro-evolutions of identity.

In this way, building better habits is actually about becoming yourself more deliberately.

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🛠️ A Simple Two-Step Process for Identity Change

1. Decide the type of person you want to become: This applies at every level — individual, team, organization, even nation. Ask yourself:

• What do I value?
• What kind of person gets the results I want?

For example:

• Want six-pack abs? → Become someone who never misses a workout.
• Want less anxiety? → Become someone who takes mental health seriously.
• Want to double your income? → Become someone who adds double the value

2. Prove it to yourself with small wins: Don’t try to believe you’re disciplined — act like it in small ways. Let your habits be your evidence.

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🔁 The Habit Formation Process (Brief Preview)

• A habit forms through repetition — it begins with trial and error.
• Do it enough, and it becomes automatic.

This lays the groundwork for the next chapter: how habits are formed, broken, and reinforced.

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🧭 Reflection Prompt

Who is the kind of person that would naturally have the results I’m trying to achieve? What small action could I take today that reinforces that identity?