What if the only thing standing between you and the life you desire is one small, repeated action?
We’ve all been there—fired up with motivation after reading a book, listening to a podcast, or attending a powerful seminar. We set new goals, declare our intentions, and maybe even start strong. But then… life happens. Days turn into weeks, motivation fades, and we slip back into old routines. Why is it so hard to make new habits stick?
The truth is, building lasting habits isn’t about willpower—it’s about wiring. Your brain is designed to automate behavior. If you understand how that process works, you can hack it to your advantage.
1. What Is a Habit, Really?
A habit is a behavior that becomes automatic through repetition. It’s your brain’s way of conserving energy. Once something becomes a habit, you no longer have to think about it—it just happens.
Think of brushing your teeth. You don’t wrestle with the decision every night. You just do it. That’s the power of habit: it removes friction from the things you want (or need) to do consistently.
Habits are formed through a process called the habit loop, which has three key components:
✔ Cue – The trigger that initiates the behavior
✔ Routine – The behavior or action itself
✔ Reward – The benefit your brain receives, reinforcing the behavior
For example, feeling stressed (cue) may lead you to scroll social media (routine) for a dopamine hit (reward). Do it enough times, and it becomes automatic.
2. Why Most Habits Fail to Stick
Most people fail to build habits not because they’re lazy or undisciplined, but because they don’t understand how habit formation really works.
Here are a few common mistakes:
✔ Trying to change everything at once
✔ Setting vague or unrealistic goals
✔ Relying on motivation instead of systems
✔ Not creating the right environment
✔ Lacking a reward or feedback loop
Motivation is unreliable. It comes and goes. Systems, however, create consistency—even when you don’t feel like it.
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…” (Luke 16:10)
Faithfulness in small habits sets the stage for bigger victories.
3. Start Small, Win Big
One of the biggest breakthroughs in habit research comes from Stanford professor BJ Fogg, who coined the idea of “tiny habits.” The concept is simple: start so small that you can’t fail.
✔ Want to start exercising? Do just one push-up.
✔ Want to read more? Read one paragraph.
✔ Want to pray consistently? Start with one minute of focused prayer.
It may seem insignificant, but the goal isn’t intensity—it’s consistency. Small actions, repeated daily, become powerful over time.
Why does this work? Because success breeds motivation. When you win (even a small win), your brain releases dopamine. That reward makes you more likely to repeat the behavior.
4. Habit Stacking: The Easiest Way to Add a New Routine
Another powerful strategy is habit stacking—linking a new habit to an existing one.
This technique, popularized by author James Clear, works because it leverages something that’s already automatic. You simply “stack” the new habit on top of a current one:
✔ After I brush my teeth, I will read one Bible verse.
✔ After I pour my morning coffee, I will write in my journal.
✔ After I sit down at my desk, I will plan my top 3 priorities for the day.
This simple formula—“After [current habit], I will [new habit]”—makes behavior change far more seamless.
5. Your Environment Matters More Than You Think
We like to think that we’re creatures of strong will, but in reality, we’re often creatures of our environment. If your environment is working against you, even the strongest intentions will struggle to survive.
✔ Want to eat healthier? Keep fruits and nuts visible; hide the chips.
✔ Want to wake up early? Put your alarm across the room.
✔ Want to study or read more? Create a clutter-free, inviting space.
Design your environment to support your habits—not sabotage them.
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise…” (Proverbs 13:20)
Even your social environment matters. Surround yourself with people who reflect the habits you want to build.
6. Make It Easy and Obvious
The more friction there is to a habit, the less likely you are to do it. Likewise, the easier and more obvious it is, the more it becomes part of your life.
Here’s how to make habits easier:
✔ Reduce the number of steps – Prepare your gym clothes the night before.
✔ Use visual cues – Keep your Bible or journal where you can see it.
✔ Automate decisions – Have set meals, outfits, or routines to avoid decision fatigue.
The easier the habit, the more automatic it becomes.
7. Track and Celebrate Your Progress
Your brain loves closure and reward. Tracking your habits gives you visual proof that you’re growing. Even something as simple as checking a box on a calendar can reinforce consistency.
✔ Use a habit tracker or journal
✔ Celebrate streaks—even if they’re short
✔ Reflect weekly on what’s working and what’s not
“Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
Tracking brings clarity—and clarity fuels momentum.
8. Prepare for the Plateau (and Push Through It)
Every habit journey has a dip. The excitement wears off. Results slow down. You wonder if it’s even worth it. This is the plateau of latent potential—the place where most people give up.
But remember: habits compound. Just like ice doesn’t melt until it hits 32 degrees, your habits may not show visible results immediately—but something is shifting beneath the surface.
Stick with it. What seems invisible today will become undeniable tomorrow.
9. Don’t Break the Chain—But If You Do, Restart Immediately
Consistency beats perfection. You’re human. You’ll miss a day. But don’t let a missed day turn into a missed week.
✔ Never miss twice.
✔ Always restart quickly.
✔ Don’t aim for perfect—aim for progress.
Forgive yourself fast and keep going.
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…” (Proverbs 24:16)
Falling isn’t failure. Staying down is.
Final Thoughts: Your Habits Shape Your Future
✔ Habits are the invisible architecture of your life.
✔ Small changes, done daily, create massive transformation.
✔ You don’t rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your systems.
✔ Change your habits, and you change your destiny.
Your future is not decided by chance—it’s built by design. And that design begins with the habits you choose today.
So, what’s one small habit you can begin right now that your future self will thank you for?