James Clear

Author of the #1 NYT bestseller Atomic Habits ( I write about building good habits. Over 3 million people read my 3-2-1 newsletter.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

My top 10 tweets of the year

A thread 👇

[James Clear @JamesClear]

A Monday morning question for you:

You may want the result, but do you want the lifestyle?

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Be excited for people when they succeed.

When a friend or family member reaches an important milestone like getting a promotion or making their first sale or scoring acceptance into their desired program, celebrate it. Buy them a drink. Send them a card. Tell them you’re proud to know them.

Being thrilled on someone’s behalf is a lovely way to be. Winning is better when shared.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

This idea is from today's edition of my 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter.⁠ ⁠

Each one features⁠ 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others⁠, and 1 question for you to ponder⁠.⁠ ⁠

You can see more of today's newsletter (and sign up to get it in your inbox) at https://t.co/M9D18k526a

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Darkness is preparation for light.

Sadness is preparation for joy.

Failure is preparation for success.

But only if you keep going and remain open to what comes next.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

A surefire way to make a bad situation worse is to continue replaying it in your mind.

The damage is done. The only thing that matters now is making the best choice given your current position.

Next play mentality.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

What is the real goal?

The real goal is not to “beat the market.” The goal is to build wealth.

The real goal is not to read more books. The goal is to understand what you read.

Don’t let a proxy become the target. Don’t optimize for the wrong outcome.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

A two-part Monday morning question for you:

Where am I rushing right now when I should be moving deliberately?

Where am I dragging my feet right now when I should be moving fast?

[James Clear @JamesClear]

This idea is from today's edition of my 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter.

Each one features⁠ 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others⁠, and 1 question for you to ponder⁠.

You can see more of today's newsletter (and sign up to get it in your inbox) at https://t.co/lTqhlGhlpU

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Be forgiving with your past self. What's done is done. No sense in beating yourself up about it.

Be strict with your present self. Win the moment in front of you right now.

Be flexible with your future self. There are many paths to success. You don't need life to be a certain way to live well.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Your response to a challenge defines you more than the challenge itself.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Guilt lives in the past.

Worry lives in the future.

Peace lives in the present.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

This idea is from today's edition of my 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter.

Each one features⁠ 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others⁠, and 1 question for you to ponder⁠.

You can see more of today's newsletter (and sign up to get it in your inbox) at https://t.co/lTqhlGhlpU

[James Clear @JamesClear]

I recently found this note to myself:

No sense in thinking small. Don't water down your vision. A remarkable amount can be accomplished if you are willing to think longer term than most and work hard each day.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Ideas that are hoarded help no one. Success follows generosity.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Train hard and focus on what you can control.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

A Monday morning question for you:

If you want a plant to grow, you can fuss over it every day—watering, weeding, moving it toward the sun. Or you can place it in the right soil and let nature do most of the work. A seed planted in the right spot often thrives on its own. Life is much the same. Progress is not only about how hard you work, but also about where you decide to work.

Where is your energy better spent right now: pushing harder or planting yourself in better ground?

[James Clear @JamesClear]

Your life will not magically exceed your standards. Improve your boundaries and life improves too.

[James Clear @JamesClear]

This idea is from today's edition of my 3-2-1 Thursday newsletter.

Each one features⁠ 3 short ideas from me, 2 quotes from others⁠, and 1 question for you to ponder⁠.

You can see more of today's newsletter (and sign up to get it in your inbox) at https://t.co/lTqhlGhlpU

[James Clear @JamesClear]

The best view of the game is probably from the stands. But that's not where the action is. And so you have to decide, do you want a nice view or do you want to be in the thick of it and playing the game?

[James Clear @JamesClear]

In the gym, if you experience no stimulus your muscles won't grow. If you step under 10,000 pounds your body will break.

Life is similar.

Too much challenge makes life hard, but so does too little.