Keep Your Identity Big

Tech investor and entrepreneur Paul Graham advises people to "keep your identity small."

Don't identify as Republican or Democrat, religious or atheist. If you do, you'll find it hard to change your mind and be rational, because if the facts don't line up with the identity you've created for yourself, you're much more likely to discard the facts than discard your identity.

That's great advice for matters of faith and politics. But in certain areas, you should aim to make your identity as big as possible. In his new book Atomic Habits, author James Clear talks about identity-based habits.

• I am the type of person that keeps their word.
• I am the type of person that cares about their health.
• I am the type of person that builds deep relationships with people I care about.
• I am the type of person you can rely on to do a good job.

If you can adopt these as part of your identity, then you'll want to act in a way consistent with that identity.

And you can choose to start right now.