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"Some people get addicted to chain-smoking their problems. They spend all day going from sorrow to sorrow. It doesn't have to be that way. You can live each day going from joy to joy—like a sunflower that turns to face the sun as it moves across the sky. It's not about having a problem-free life, but about focusing on the light. Sunflowers still have shadows, but they are always behind them."

- James Clear

"A truth unsaid can still be felt.

What needs to be discussed, but hasn't been said yet?

Clear the air."

- James Clear

"How to clarify a concept you can't articulate:

​ 1. Change mediums. Draw it. Photograph it. Sing it.

2. Change levels. Explain what is one level up (bigger picture) or one level down (finer details).

3. Change fields. What would this concept look like in different fields?"

- James Clear

"Flexibility alone is not a great strategy, but the lack of it can ruin one."

- James Clear

"The beginner chases the right answers.

The master chases the right questions."

- James Clear

"The reason people get good ideas in the shower is because it's the only time during the day when most people are away from screens long enough to think clearly. The lesson is not to take more showers, but rather to make more time to think."

- James Clear

"You can go to hell without moving an inch, just focus on what you lack.

You can taste heaven without leaving earth, just rejoice in what you have."

- James Clear

"I can't control the other person's behavior, but I can control my response. Their actions may be rude or unacceptable, but I still want my response to be measured and thoughtful. Even if they aren't doing what is right, I still want to make sure I'm doing what is right."

- James Clear

"Don't sacrifice peace of mind for a piece of luxury."

- James Clear

"The secret is not to find the meaning of life, but to use your life to make things that are meaningful."

- James Clear

"Stop paying so much attention to what everyone else is doing and run your own race. How much time is spent reading other people's posts on social media, watching other people's exploits in the news, listening to other people's ideas on podcasts? Go have coffee with a friend. Go make something. Go outside. All those hours spent looking at someone else's life on a screen could be used to take action in your own life."

- James Clear

"The more things you have, the more things you have to manage.

Simplicity isn't merely cheaper, it's easier."

- James Clear

"When I go into a situation, I try to keep a mindset of baseline optimism.

-When starting the day: It’s going to be a good day.

-When meeting someone new: I’m going to like them.

-When trying something challenging: It’s going to work out.

Problems will inevitably arise and I’ll deal with them as the situation demands, but my preference is to assume I’m on a winning path until proven otherwise."

- James Clear

"You should always be rooting for the people you know. Not only because you may need their support tomorrow, but also because it feels good to celebrate something.

Celebration can rescue your day—even if it is someone else's victory. Envy will ruin your day—even if you're actually winning."

- James Clear

"If you want a recipe for unhappiness, spend your time accumulating a lot of money and let your health and relationships deteriorate."

- James Clear

"The wedding is an event, love is a practice.

The graduation is an event, education is a practice.

The race is an event, fitness is a practice.

The heart, mind, and body are endless pursuits."

- James Clear

"The days can be easy if the years are consistent. You can write a book or get in shape or code a piece of software in 30 minutes per day. But the key is you can't miss a bunch of days."

- James Clear

"New goals don't deliver new results. New lifestyles do. And a lifestyle is a process, not an outcome. For this reason, all of your energy should go into building better habits, not chasing better results."

- James Clear

"You will love whatever you pour your heart into. Passion follows commitment."

- James Clear

"It is not too late to do what you want to do—if you stop waiting for the time to be right"

- James Clear

"Life is harder when you expect a lot of the world and little of yourself.

Life is easier when you expect a lot of yourself and little of the world.

High standards, low expectations."

- James Clear

"You are not the cause of everything that happens to you, but you are responsible for how you respond to everything that happens to you."

- James Clear

"At some point, you will have to learn to let go.

There is an endless list of obligations and expectations, desires and ambitions, and worries and fears that will always be ready to insert themselves between you and the feeling of peace.

If you never learn to let them go, there will never be enough."

- James Clear

"You have to live with your mistakes, but you don't have to compound them.

To follow up an error with a foolish reaction is to lose twice. Given the reality of where you are right now, what is the best next action?

A wise response may not erase a dumb mistake, but it can redeem it."

- James Clear

"Exerting more effort doesn't help if you're on the wrong trajectory.

- Working harder on the wrong thing just wastes more time.

- Learning more from a biased source will lead you further from the truth.

- Doubling down on a toxic relationship only sets you up for more headaches.

Before you try harder, make sure you are walking a path that leads where you want to go."

- James Clear

"Relax. Your rumination, analysis, worry, and need to control the future are robbing you of the current moment. Yes, there is a time for preparation, but continually thinking of the future guarantees you'll never enjoy in the present."

- James Clear

"For each headache you face, ask yourself, "Is this mostly real or mostly imagined?" Solve the real problems, release the imaginary ones."

- James Clear

"Don't overlook the basics. Don't ignore the foundation. How long can a tree remain standing without the roots?"

- James Clear

"When you tolerate an error, you rob yourself of learning.

When you ruminate on an error, you rob yourself of happiness.

Notice it, improve it, and move on from it."

- James Clear

"Simplify. What can be done in three steps should never be done in four. Each link in the chain is a potential breaking point. Fewer links means fewer chances of failure."

- James Clear

"In many cases, what you want to “buy” isn’t being “sold.”

-the best homes usually aren’t for sale

-the best employees usually aren’t looking

People tend to hold onto the great things in life. They are almost never easily available. If you want to get them, you need enough courage to ask and enough salesmanship to convince them."

- James Clear

"Your relationships will rarely be healthier than your self-esteem."

- James Clear

"Before you discover what you love: fewer commitments, more experiments.

After you discover what you love: fewer experiments, more commitments."

- James Clear

"It's hard to save poor early decisions with good late decisions.

It's hard to write a best-selling book if you chose an unpopular topic.

It's hard to build a happy marriage if you married an unhappy person.

It's hard to make money in real estate if you overpaid at the beginning.

Certainly, things can be improved by making good decisions along the way, but the effects of poor early decisions tend to linger."

- James Clear

"One filter I use for making decisions: How much can I influence the outcome after the initial choice is made?

When I can do a lot to influence the outcome, I'm less worried about risk. Even if the choice appears risky on the surface, I can likely create a good outcome with effort.

When I can't do much to influence the outcome, I'm more risk averse. Even my best effort won't move the needle. Your ability to influence the outcome after a decision is made is a crucial thing to consider."

- James Clear

"Arguably the most important skill is controlling your attention. This goes beyond merely avoiding distractions. The deeper skill is finding the highest and best use for your time, given what is important to you. More than anything else, controlling your attention is about being able to figure out what you should be working on and identifying what truly moves the needle."

- James Clear

"The odds increase, the more you try."

- James Clear

"Many people view their habits and routines as obstacles or, at the very least, obligations to get through. Making the morning coffee, driving your kids to the next activity, preparing the next meal—we often see our routines as chores to be completed.

But these are not moments to be dismissed. They are life. Making coffee can be a peaceful ritual—perhaps even a fulfilling one—if done with care rather than rushed to completion. It’s about the amount of attention you devote to these simple moments, and whether you choose to appreciate them or bulldoze through them on the way to the next task.

Find the beauty and joy in your daily rituals and you will find beauty and joy in your daily life. To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is to love your life."

- James Clear

"Explore life from a position of power.

When you believe, "Even if I stay single, I'll still have a great life" ... then you are in a much better position to enter a relationship.

When you believe, "Even if I don't get into this school, I'll still have a great life" ... then you are in a much better position to apply.

When you believe, "Even if I don't succeed with this business, I'll still have a great life" ... then you are in a much better position to give it a try.

Sure, you may want the relationship to work or the business to be a success—and you should give it your best effort—but also realize that if it doesn't work out, you'll be fine. There are many ways to live a great life."

- James Clear

"Some lessons have to be experienced to be learned."

- James Clear

"My approach is to empower, not to prescribe. I'm not interested in telling you which habits you should build or which choices you should make. You know what works for your life and circumstances better than I ever could. Instead, I want to equip and empower you with ideas and strategies so you can make your own choices and do the things you want to do. I'll give you the hammer, you decide where to drive the nail."

- James Clear

"It's not that hard on any given day, but the trick is you can't skip days. Your workouts can be reasonable and still deliver results—if you don't skip days. Your writing sessions can be short and the work will still accumulate—if you don't skip days. As long as you're working, you'll get there."

- James Clear

"When nothing is working, explore and make a lot of small bets.

After something starts working, double down on what works best.

When that stops working, explore and make a lot of small bets again."

- James Clear

"Some things work and some things don't. There is almost always another way to get where you want to go. Don't keep trying to open a locked door."

- James Clear

"First or last?

Sometimes the first move is the most important. The first set in the gym. Now you're working out. The first sentence. Now you're writing. The first call. Now you're in the game.

Other times, the last move is the most important. The last brick. Now the building is built. The last line of code. Now the app works. The last round of revisions. Now you can ship it.

What do you need to focus on right now? First or last? Do you need to start or finish?"

- James Clear

"You're more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don't merely try harder, try differently."

- James Clear

"Goals are for people who care about winning once. Systems are for people who care about winning repeatedly."

- James Clear

"We want solutions, but what we really need are attitudes.

You don’t need abs, but rather an attitude of training. You don’t need the answer, but rather an attitude of curiosity. You don’t need an easier life, but rather an attitude of perseverance.

Attitude precedes outcome."

- James Clear

"Being good at what you do is partially about competence, but not exclusively.

Two other things that matter:

Reliability. You do what you say you're going to do—on time and as expected.

Enthusiasm. You're excited to be here and eager to work on this problem.

Skills matter, but in many cases it's your reliability or attitude that separates you from the pack. "

- James Clear

"Avoiding mistakes is an underrated way to improve. It's easier to fend off a bad day than achieve a perfect day. Rather than do your best, avoid your worst."

- James Clear

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