It’s quite simple, actually.

The way I see it, a habit actually leads to a goal.

For example, if you want to have a clean body, you must develop the habit of washing yourself regularly. If you want to lose weight, you might develop the habit of working out.

What you do today influences what will happen with your long term goals.

This is the trick that eludes most people, when starting out, the goal is not the goal, but rather the goal is to create the habit(s) that will allow you to achieve your goal. Your first goal is to focus for as long as it takes to create a habit.

Once you’re on autopilot, it will be far more difficult to give up on working out, no matter what.

It’s not the end result that truly matters, but the struggle contained within the journey towards that end result. Why I am saying, is that habits matter far more than goals. Setting goals is easy, while developing habits is one of the most difficult things we can do as human beings; you are basically rewiring your brain to stop doing what it’s always done and do something different instead.

When forming a habit, here’s what I recommend:

1. Know your goal, focus on the habit. Spend the first 30 days like this, reviewing your goal, visualizing the benefits on a daily basis. Focus, focus, focus. Do it when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it.
2. Now, odds are that you’ve successfully developed your habit. It’s time to work on your goal, to plan what needs to be done, and figure out how long will it take to achieve the goal. Adjust accordingly.
3. After you achieve your goal, all you’ve got to do is keep visualizing why. Know it deeply in your heart that the habit you worked so hard on is good for you, essential for your well-being, and you mustn’t give up on it.

What is one goal you have that requires a set of habits you have not yet developed?