Identity-Based Habits: Casting Votes for the Person You Want to Be

Habits are not just about achieving goals; they are a reflection of our identities. By casting daily "votes" through our actions, we shape who we are becoming and reinforce the identities we value.

Hirvesh Munogee

 · 

3 min read

Habit Formation
Behavior Change
Habit Loop
Habits
Behavioral Psychology
notion-image

Table of Contents

💡
When James Clear says, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become,” he’s highlighting a subtle truth: habits don’t just reach goals—they confirm identities.

Identity Over Outcomes

Most change attempts start with results in mind—run 5 km, finish a novel, hit 10 % body-fat. But results sit on the outermost layer of behavior change. Identity is the core:
 
outcomes ➜ processes ➜ identity James Clear
 
If you instead ask, “Who am I becoming?” behaviours shift naturally. A reader reads, an athlete trains, a mindful person meditates. Activities feel inevitable because they express who you are.

The Vote Metaphor

Think of each repetition as dropping a ballot into an identity box:
 
Habit
Identity Vote
Do 10 push-ups
🗳 “I’m an active person.”
Read two pages
🗳 “I’m a reader.”
Save $5
🗳 “I’m a prudent saver.”
Scroll mindlessly
🗳 “I’m a doom-scroller.”
 
Single votes don’t decide the election, but they add up. The identity with the majority of ballots becomes the default self-image.

How to Cast Better Votes

Choose a North-Star Identity
 
Write a sentence in the present tense:
“I’m a creative coder.”
“I’m the kind of parent who listens first.”
 
Shrink the Proof
Select a daily behaviour so small you can’t say no—one push-up, one paragraph, one minute of box breathing. Frequent votes matter more than intense ones.
 
Design Visible Cues
  • Place a physical book on your pillow (reader).
  • Leave running shoes by the door (athlete).
  • Put a gratitude prompt at your workspace (optimist).
 
Track Evidence
Use a simple check-box, emoji counter, or heat-map. Visual feedback turns invisible ballots into a growing pile you can see.
 
Reinforce with Language
Say “I don’t skip workouts” instead of “I can’t skip.” Language locks identity in place.

Notion Setup (Copy/Paste Friendly)

Date
Tiny Action
Identity Reinforced
✅
2025-04-24
10× push-ups
Athlete
ㅤ
ㅤ
Meditated 1 min
Calm person
ㅤ
ㅤ
Read 2 pages
Reader
ㅤ
 
Reflection prompts
  • What identity received the most votes today?
  • Which tiny action felt easiest?
  • What cue made it automatic?
 
Duplicate the table, tick the ✅ column each evening, and add a weekly toggle for reflection. Over weeks the sheet becomes a ledger of who you’re becoming.
 

Key Takeaways

  • Identity drives consistency; habits that match self-image stick.
  • Actions are ballots—cast them daily for the identity you value.
  • Tiny, visible votes win the election; make them obvious and easy.
  • Track proof in a lightweight Notion page to watch your identity emerge.
 
Who will you vote for with your next action?

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HM

Hirvesh Munogee

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Hirvesh is an indie hacker from the beautiful island of Mauritius currently working on his two SaaS products: stomod.com and assistflare.com
He’s passionate about solopreneurship and blogs at hirve.sh about his learnings on setting up a business!

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