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Are Your Habits Changing Your Life?

ByRoland Thunstedt Updated on Personal Growth, Mind & Meaning
Alternative Text: Walking shoes, a journal, and water on a wooden table beside a sunlit path, symbolizing daily habits and personal growth.

Are Your Habits Changing Your Life?

I’ve written before about discipline, but lately I’ve started thinking more about habits and how small daily actions can change your life.

For many people, discipline sounds restrictive. It feels like forcing yourself to do things you don’t want to do. That’s why I’ve started thinking about it differently. Instead of focusing on discipline, I focus on habits.

Two books have influenced my thinking more than most when it comes to habits and personal growth: Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. Although they approach the topic differently, they both point to the same truth: small actions, repeated consistently over time, can create remarkable results.

For years, I searched for motivation. Whenever I felt stuck, I would set new goals, create new plans, and look for ways to become inspired again. The problem was that motivation always seemed temporary. It would work for a while, sometimes for a few weeks, sometimes for a few months, and then it would disappear.

Eventually, I realized that motivation is a wonderful feeling, but a poor foundation. Habits are much stronger.

Today, my focus is not on feeling motivated. My focus is on building habits that naturally lead to the next action.

One of the most useful concepts I’ve learned from Atomic Habits is habit stacking. The idea is simple: one habit becomes the trigger for the next.

My morning routine follows this principle. I wake up, take care of my morning routine, step on the scale, get dressed, drink a glass of water, put on my shoes, start an audio program, and head out for a walk.

The walk isn’t really the goal. The goal is to follow the sequence. Each small action naturally leads to the next one.

When I get home, I prepare breakfast while continuing to listen to the audio. After breakfast, I clear away the dishes, sit down, and begin reading.

That reading habit has become one of the most valuable parts of my day.

Every morning I spend approximately 90 minutes reading and studying. Right now, I am reading How to Win Friends and Influence People and reviewing highlights from The Magic of Thinking Big, The Slight Edge, and Atomic Habits.

Ninety minutes may not sound like much, but over the course of a year, those ninety minutes become more than 547 hours.

That’s almost fourteen full-time working weeks invested in learning and personal growth. It’s enough time to read and study somewhere between 35 and 55 books, depending on their length and complexity.

Think about that for a moment.

How do you think your life would change if you spent the next year studying 35 to 55 books on leadership, communication, habits, psychology, personal growth, or success?

Do you think you would think differently? Do you think you would make different decisions? Do you think you would see opportunities that you currently overlook?

I certainly believe you would.

Another habit I’ve introduced is journaling my days. This is something I’ve read about in several personal development books, and John Maxwell also talks about the value of reflection. But for me, this is still a new habit.

In the past, I often read books without stopping long enough to reflect, write things down, and apply what I was learning. Now I’m beginning to journal what I do, where my time goes, and what I actually learn from the material I study.

One of the biggest surprises was discovering that I had more available time than I thought. Once I started tracking my days, I could clearly see what moved me forward and what didn’t.

Many of us believe we don’t have enough time. Sometimes the real problem isn’t time. It’s that we don’t know where our time is going.

This connects directly to one of the core ideas in The Slight Edge: small actions matter.

The small things we do every day often seem insignificant in the moment. Reading ten pages. Listening to an audio. Going for a walk. Spending a few minutes learning something new.

None of those actions seem life-changing. Yet over time, they compound.

The same principle works in reverse. If we stop learning, stop growing, and stop investing in ourselves, the decline is usually so gradual that we barely notice it.

That’s why I believe habits are far more important than motivation. Motivation comes and goes. Habits remain. And over time, those habits shape who we become.

Many people spend years trying to change their circumstances while ignoring the daily actions that create those circumstances.

Real change usually starts much smaller.

It starts with a single habit.

Then another.

And another.

The goal isn’t to become perfect overnight. The goal is simply to move forward, one small step at a time.

In my next blog, I’ll explore something I’ve understood for many years, but have started approaching differently: books, learning, and the difference between simply reading a book and truly studying it.

Related reading: Habits become easier to maintain when we understand what discipline really is. Read: Discipline Is Not What Most People Think.

Want to understand what keeps you motivated and helps you follow through on the habits that move you forward? Learn more about the Goal Style Test.

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    A Good Income Is Not the Same as Freedom

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    A Good Income Is Not the Same as Freedom

    A person can earn a good income and still have very little control over their time. A person can own a business and still feel tied to customers, assignments, and the need to keep producing income.

    That is something I have been thinking about. Because earning money and having freedom are not always the same thing.

    When Income Depends on Your Time

    When I was younger, I mostly saw two ways of earning money. You became employed or you became self-employed. If you wanted income, you worked. If you wanted more, you worked more, became better at what you did, or started your own business.

    Later, I began to understand the difference between earning money from the time we sell and building something that can create income beyond the exact hours we personally work.

    That changed how I looked at time.

    As an employee, someone else usually decides many parts of your schedule. As a self-employed person, you may have more freedom in some areas. But customers, deadlines, and assignments can still decide much of your day.

    There is nothing wrong with either path. But owning a business does not automatically mean owning more of your time.

    What Do I Have a Choice About?

    For me, the question has become less about income alone and more about options.

    Do I have enough control over my time to live in a way that feels meaningful to me? What am I depending on? What would happen if that situation changed?

    Time is not only something we use to work. It is time with family, time for health, time for learning, and time for the things we want to experience in life.

    I may enjoy what I do and still want more choice around those things.

    Building More Options

    This does not mean leaving a job or changing everything immediately. An alternative can begin with learning a skill, developing better financial habits, or slowly building a project alongside what we already do.

    The point is not that everyone should do the same thing. The point is to consider what might give us more choices in the future.

    If I enjoy my job, I want to stay because I want to. If I run a business, I want to understand whether it is giving me the freedom I hoped for.

    For me, a good income can be valuable. But I also want time to live the life I am working to build.

    Related reading: Creating more options can begin with investing in your own knowledge and skills. Read: Your Best Investment

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    The Mental Prison

    ByRoland Thunstedt

    The Mental Prison

    Sometimes we are held back by something we are not even aware of. A mental prison.

    We grow up surrounded by other people’s values, beliefs, and ways of looking at life. We learn from our parents, the people around us, and later from school and work. Much of that becomes so familiar that we never really question it.

    We learn how things are supposed to be. How we are supposed to fit in. What we are supposed to do. And often, we follow that path without knowing what other paths might exist.

    The Path We Learned to Follow

    Get an education. Find a good, secure job. That was the direction I learned.

    There is nothing wrong with that. If you enjoy your work and the life you are building, then you should do what feels right for you. But I think there is a difference between choosing a path and following it because it is the only one you know.

    The people around us may have followed the same path themselves. They passed on what they knew. They may never have been introduced to anything different either.

    When I was at school, I did not learn how to make money work for me. I did not learn that from my parents either. I understood working for money. Exchanging my time for an income. But financial understanding beyond that was something I had to begin learning for myself.

    The knowledge simply was not there in the environment I grew up in. And when we do not know that other possibilities exist, it is difficult to see them as choices.

    What We Learn About Mistakes

    I think the way we learn to look at mistakes can become part of this too. At school, getting an answer wrong was something negative. But in life, mistakes can be part of how we learn.

    When I listen to people who have built something significant, I often hear them talk about how many things went wrong along the way. They made mistakes. They tried things that did not work.

    That is a very different picture from the idea that getting something wrong means you have failed. If we carry that fear of being wrong with us, it can become another part of the mental prison.

    Becoming Curious About Something Else

    For me, the beginning is curiosity. Being willing to ask whether there might be something beyond the way we have always done things. If you are reading blogs like this, perhaps you have already started that journey.

    We can read. We can listen. We can learn from people who have done something we would like to do. There is material about financial understanding, emotional intelligence, personal development, and leadership. There are books and podcasts that can introduce us to ideas we were never taught.

    Those were not things I remember learning at school. I had to look for them myself.

    Whose Development Are We Working Toward?

    I have also thought about the education we receive through work. In the jobs I have had, I have not felt that the purpose was to help me build the life I wanted or understand how to create something of my own. The education was connected to what the company needed.

    We may be sent on a course or given an opportunity to travel somewhere for training. That can feel good. We feel that someone is investing in us. But I think it is worth understanding why that investment is being made.

    From my experience, the company expects it to benefit the business. That is how I have understood it. Others may have had different experiences.

    But for me, it meant that I could not expect my workplace to take responsibility for all the things I needed to learn for my own future.

    A Choice That Is Actually Yours

    When we begin learning about other possibilities, something changes. We have more to base our decisions on.

    We may still choose the work we already do. We may want the security of a regular job. We may decide to build something of our own or explore another direction. But now we know there are alternatives. That is what matters to me.

    I am not saying that one way of living is right for everyone. If you enjoy what you do, keep doing it. But I want that decision to be made on my own terms, with an understanding of what else might be possible.

    Because when we can see beyond the path we grew up with, we can begin making a choice that is truly our own.

    Related reading: Becoming aware of the paths we have learned to follow can also change how we think about work, time, and freedom. Read: Who Really Controls My Time?

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    Navigation

    ByRoland Thunstedt

    Navigation – Knowing Where You Want to Go Is Not Enough

    Most of us understand the importance of having goals. We want to know where we are going, what we want to achieve, and perhaps even what kind of person we want to become along the way. But knowing your destination is not the same as knowing how to get there. You also need to know how to navigate.

    Setting a Course Is Only the Beginning

    Imagine a ship leaving one port and heading toward another. The destination is clear. The course has been calculated. Everyone knows where the ship is supposed to go. But that does not mean the ship can simply point toward the destination and continue without adjustment.

    There is wind. There are currents. Weather changes. Other vessels may appear. Conditions change along the way. The ship constantly needs small course corrections. Life is not very different.

    We can set a goal and have a clear idea of what we want. But once we start moving, things happen. We learn new things. Circumstances change. We make mistakes. Opportunities appear that we did not expect.

    There is a saying I have always liked: Put your goals in concrete and your plans in sand.

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    You Can Be Moving and Still Be Off Course

    There is an important difference between movement and progress. You can work hard every day. You can be disciplined. You can keep pushing forward.

    But if your course is slightly wrong, the distance between where you intended to go and where you actually end up can become surprisingly large over time. That does not mean constantly changing your goals.

    It means occasionally stopping and asking: Am I still heading in the right direction?

    Sometimes the answer will be yes. Sometimes you only need a small correction. And sometimes you may realize that the route needs to change completely.

    When You Cannot See the Way Ahead

    I learned something about navigation very literally many years ago when I worked at sea. I had worked my way up on deck, and part of my job eventually involved steering the ship.

    The first times I stood behind the wheel, we practiced out at sea. A large ship does not react like a car. When you begin a turn, you also have to understand when to counter the movement so the vessel settles on the correct course. An officer stood beside me and told me exactly what to do.

    Later came something much more challenging: steering while entering a harbor. Now there were passengers on board, people eating and drinking, and everything had to be done smoothly. A badly handled turn could affect far more than their comfort. In some places there was shallow water outside the safe channel, so staying on course really mattered.

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    We knew exactly which harbor we were going to. We knew where the entrance was. We knew the course. But from where I was standing, I could not see the way.

    So I had to rely on the instruments in front of me and on the officer giving me instructions. A few degrees one way. A correction. Then another instruction. I concentrated on the course and followed what I was being told.

    And then, through the fog, the lights at the harbor entrance appeared on either side of the ship. We were exactly where we needed to be.

    That experience has become a powerful picture for me of how navigation works in life. Sometimes you know where you are going even when you cannot see the way there.

    The Value of Another Perspective

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    A mentor can give you something that is difficult to give yourself: perspective.

    Preferably, that mentor is someone who has already done what you are trying to do or has travelled a similar road. They know some of the currents. They recognize some of the obstacles. They may see that you are drifting long before you notice it yourself.

    A good mentor does not take control of your life. They do not do the work for you. You still have to steer. But they can help you recognize when a course correction is needed.

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    But believing in yourself does not mean believing that you must know everything yourself. There is strength in being able to say: This is where I want to go. I am willing to do the work. But I am also willing to learn from someone who has travelled this way before me.

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    Keep Your Hands on the Wheel

    Whatever you are working toward right now, perhaps the most important question is not simply: Where do I want to go?

    Also ask: How am I navigating? What are you using as your instruments? How often are you checking your course? Who can give you a perspective that you cannot see from where you are standing? And when you discover that you have moved slightly off course, are you willing to make the correction?

    You may not always be able to see the entire journey ahead. Sometimes there will be fog.

    But if you know your destination, stay adaptable in how you get there, pay attention to your instruments, listen to experienced guidance, and make the necessary course corrections, you can keep moving in the right direction.

    And eventually, the lights you have been navigating toward may begin to appear through the fog.

    Related reading: Reaching your destination also requires being honest about whether your actions are taking you there. Read: It Starts With You.

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    What Lies Within

    ByRoland Thunstedt

    What Lies Within

    When people hear the words personal development, they may wonder:

    “Does this mean I need to change who I am?”

    “Am I not already good enough?”

    Personal development does not mean becoming someone else. It does not mean rejecting who you are today or replacing your personality with a different one.

    I see it more like a sculptor working with clay.

    The clay already has substance, character, and potential. The sculptor does not replace it but carefully works with what is already there, gradually bringing its shape forward.

    That is how I see personal development: not creating a new person, but revealing more of the person who is already there.

    Bringing Forward What Is Already Within You

    We all have strengths, abilities, dreams, and qualities that may not yet be fully developed.

    Some may be hidden beneath fear, doubt, old habits, or past experiences. Others simply need attention, practice, and the right tools before they can grow.

    Personal development helps bring these qualities forward.

    It may involve reading, learning new skills, reflecting on our behaviour, or becoming more aware of how we think and respond. It may also involve understanding our personality—our natural strengths, our tendencies, and the patterns that sometimes hold us back.

    This does not mean becoming a different person.

    It means becoming a stronger, wiser, and more conscious version of yourself.

    Growth Still Requires Change

    Personal development does not mean that everything about us should remain exactly as it is.

    We may need to change habits that limit us. We may need to improve how we communicate, respond under pressure, treat other people, or lead ourselves through difficult situations.

    But changing a behaviour is not the same as rejecting who we are.

    Developing discipline—or building better habits, as I prefer to think of it—does not mean you had no value before. Becoming more patient, courageous, or thoughtful does not mean becoming someone else.

    It means continuing to shape what is already there.

    We Are Never Completely Finished

    A sculpture may eventually be considered complete. Human beings are different.

    There is always more we can learn about how we think, act, handle challenges, build relationships, and support the people around us.

    We can develop new skills and rediscover dreams that may have been buried beneath everyday responsibilities.

    Who we are today is not the limit of who we can become.

    Start by Understanding Yourself

    It is difficult to shape something we do not understand.

    Self-awareness gives us a clearer picture of our strengths, our personality, and the patterns that may be holding us back.

    A personality test cannot tell you who you must become. But it may help you understand more clearly who you already are—and where additional potential may be waiting to be developed.

    You are not a problem that needs to be fixed.

    You are a person who can continue to learn, grow, and bring forward more of what already exists within you.

    The clay is already there.

    The question is what you will choose to shape from it.

    Want to understand more about the strengths and natural tendencies you already carry? Explore the Core Color Personality Test.

    Related reading: Personal growth becomes easier when we understand both who we are and the habits that shape us. Read: Understand Yourself First and Are Your Habits Changing Your Life?

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  • Fear and Doubt Are Part of Growth

    ByRoland Thunstedt

    Fear and Doubt Are Part of Growth

    When you build something and put it out into the world, you expose yourself.

    It doesn’t matter if it’s a business, a blog, a video, or simply sharing your thoughts publicly. The moment you make something visible, you also open yourself up to opinions, reactions, and judgment.

    And that can create doubt.

    I’ve experienced that many times while building Equipido. Even when you know you have something valuable to share — years of experience, education, and reflection behind it — there can still be that quiet voice asking:

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    What will they think?

    Those thoughts are natural. They are part of being human.

    But the deeper truth is that fear and doubt often come from something much older and deeper. Many times they are connected to acceptance — the desire to be understood, appreciated, or simply not rejected.

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    Whether we want to start a business, create something meaningful, or grow as individuals, there will always be uncertainty. Waiting until everything feels comfortable or safe usually means waiting forever.

    Growth almost always requires doing something that feels uncomfortable.

    And the reality is simple: if we only stay in situations that feel safe, predictable, and comfortable, we rarely move forward.

    Progress happens when we step into situations where we don’t have full control, where we might be judged, and where things might not turn out exactly as planned.

    That doesn’t mean fear disappears.

    It simply means we choose to move forward anyway.

    Related reading: Being visible often brings fear and doubt. Read: The Courage to Be Visible.

    Want to understand how your emotional patterns shape the way you respond to fear, doubt, and uncertainty as you grow? Learn more about the Emotional Style Test.

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  • How Shifting Your Mind Changes Everything

    ByRoland Thunstedt

    How Shifting Your Mind Changes Everything

    Can we think our way to results?
    Both yes and no. Thinking alone doesn’t create change — but changing how you think while moving in the right direction absolutely can.

    Our minds are incredibly powerful, yet often limited by our own patterns. When we open our thinking, we expand what’s possible and begin to notice opportunities we once thought were out of reach.

    We’ve all heard the phrase “You can be anything you want.” I don’t fully agree. If we chase something that goes against our natural strengths, we might become competent — but rarely exceptional.

    Real growth begins when you discover your strengths and build on your natural talents. As leadership expert John C. Maxwell writes, “The key choices you make — apart from the natural talent you already have — will set you apart from others who have talent alone.”
    (From his book Talent Is Never Enough)

    Success isn’t defined by talent alone — it’s shaped by your decisions, character, and mindset.

    So start with your thinking. Expand it, align it, and act on it.
    That’s when possibility becomes progress.

    Want to better understand your natural strengths and how they influence the way you think, decide, and grow? Learn more about Core Color Personality Test.

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