Daily habits have more power to shape your future than plans

F. M. Alexander’s quote, “People don’t decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures,” expounds a profound truth about human behaviour and success.

At its core, this statement suggests that the future is not an abstract concept shaped by grand decisions but rather a reflection of the small, consistent actions we take every day.

While many people spend time dreaming about the future, planning for success, or setting ambitious goals, Alexander reminds us that it is the mundane, often overlooked routines of our daily lives that ultimately shape our destiny.

Most people believe they are in control of their futures. They set goals, make plans, and envision their lives in five, ten, or twenty years. However, what Alexander highlights is the often-overlooked reality that while goals and plans are important, they are not the primary drivers of success.

Instead, it is our habits that determine whether we reach those goals or not. Consider the example of someone who dreams of becoming a successful author. They may spend countless hours planning their book, outlining the chapters, and even visualizing themselves at book signings. But if they do not cultivate the habit of writing regularly, their dream will remain just that—a dream.

On the other hand, someone who writes a little each day, even if they start with no clear plan, is much more likely to achieve their goal. This is because habits have a cumulative effect. Over time, they build momentum and lead to significant outcomes. Habits are the building blocks of our daily lives.

They are the routines and behaviours that we perform almost automatically, without much thought. These actions, whether positive or negative, become ingrained in our lives over time, shaping who we are and what we achieve. James Clear, in his book “Atomic Habits,” emphasises that habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. Just as money multiplies through compound interest, the effects of your habits multiply as you repeat them.

They seem to make little difference on any given day, yet the impact they deliver over months and years can be enormous.

Positive habits, such as regular exercise, reading, or healthy eating, can lead to significant improvements in our physical health, knowledge, and overall well-being. Conversely, negative habits, like procrastination, overeating, or excessive screen time, can have detrimental effects on our health, productivity, and relationships.

What’s crucial to understand is that our habits do not exist in isolation. They are interconnected, creating feedback loops that reinforce each other.

For example, the habit of waking up early can lead to more time for exercise, which in turn can improve your energy levels and productivity throughout the day. This creates a positive cycle where one good habit leads to another, gradually transforming your life.

To fully appreciate the impact of habits on our future, it’s essential to understand how habits are formed. According to Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit,” habits are the brain’s way of saving effort.

Once a behaviour becomes a habit, our brain stops fully participating in decision-making. It stops working so hard or diverting focus to the behaviour, which allows us to focus on other tasks.

Habits are formed through a three-step loop: the cue, the routine, and the reward. The cue is a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. The routine is the behaviour itself, and the reward is what helps your brain decide whether this particular loop is worth remembering for the future.

For example, consider someone trying to develop the habit of exercising regularly. The cue might be waking up and seeing their workout clothes laid out. The routine is the exercise itself, and the reward might be the satisfaction of completing it. Over time, this loop becomes ingrained, and the person finds themselves exercising regularly without much effort.

Understanding this loop is key to developing new, positive habits and breaking old, negative ones. By identifying the cues that trigger our habits and consciously deciding on a routine that leads to a positive outcome, we can reshape our behaviours and, ultimately, our futures.

One of the most significant aspects of habits is their long-term impact. While it’s easy to focus on immediate outcomes, the true power of habits lies in their ability to shape our future over time. This is why the quote by Alexander is so profound—it reminds us that the future is not something that happens to us; it is something we create through our daily actions.

Imagine two people with identical skills and opportunities. One person has the habit of continuous learning, always seeking to improve themselves, while the other person is content with their current knowledge and skills. Over time, the gap between these two individuals will widen significantly. The first person will likely advance in their career, take on new challenges, and achieve greater success, while the second person may find themselves stagnant or even falling behind.

The same principle applies to other areas of life, such as health, relationships, and personal growth. Small, positive habits, repeated consistently over time, can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Conversely, neglecting to develop good habits or allowing negative habits to take root can lead to a future that is far less fulfilling than one might have hoped.

In conclusion, Alexander’s quote is a powerful reminder that our future is not determined by chance or by the grand decisions we make, but by the small, daily actions that we often take for granted. By focusing on cultivating positive habits, we can take control of our destiny and create a future that aligns with our goals and aspirations.

Therefore, it’s important to remember that every action, no matter how small, contributes to the person we become and the life we lead. By choosing our habits wisely, we can ensure that our future is one of success, fulfilment, and happiness.