{"id":12233,"date":"2019-05-31T09:48:45","date_gmt":"2019-05-31T07:48:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/blog\/creating-habits\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T11:40:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T09:40:26","slug":"creating-habits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/blog\/creating-habits\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating Habits"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Tabla de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/blog\/creating-habits\/#Goals\" >Goals<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/blog\/creating-habits\/#Willpower_and_self-control\" >Willpower and self-control<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/blog\/creating-habits\/#Motivation_and_method\" >Motivation and method<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking back, I believe my last two posts reflected two existential anxieties: <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(1) Productivity and <a href=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/problema-del-tiempo\/\" rel=\"noopener\">time management<\/a> <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(2) The insecurities inherent in <a href=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/sindrome-del-impostor\/\" rel=\"noopener\">imposter syndrome<\/a>, a product of various factors, such as starting a business without clear &#8220;tutoring&#8221; or mentoring. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every freelancer or entrepreneur knows that we go through several cycles each month; one of them is the defeatist one, in which we doubt almost everything around us. Especially when our actions are not bringing the <strong>results<\/strong> we seek.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter what they tell you: starting a business is NOT easy, although it is very rewarding. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I already gave a very personal view in the post: <a href=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/emprender-en-espana\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Starting a Business in Spain<\/a>. There I outlined a series of attitudes that I considered key to undertaking any project, among them:  <\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Order<\/li><li>Cleanliness<\/li><li>Discipline<\/li><li>Adaptability<\/li><li>Good manners<\/li><li>Open-mindedness<\/li><li>Creativity and imagination<\/li><li>Show your work<\/li><li>Have clear objectives<\/li><li>Learn to sell<\/li><li>Have fun<\/li><li>Be authentic<\/li><li>Collaborate<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a post very much inspired by the birth of my son. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I enjoyed rereading it almost two years later, and I realize that I advanced in some things, but my worries grew, as your decisions now involve one more person. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, combining working from home (which I no longer do; I&#8217;m now in a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"coworking (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/espacioarroelo.es\/\" target=\"_blank\">coworking space<\/a>) with having a child is difficult. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you reach a certain level of work, it becomes a snowball; it grows, and that&#8217;s positive, but it involves many challenges. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is work, the problem is time management. Especially when you realize you&#8217;re getting into more and more projects, and growth could only happen in two ways:  <\/p>\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Outsourcing<\/li><li>Hiring staff<\/li><\/ol>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I outsourced some aspects, from accounting to small tasks. But it&#8217;s always difficult in the service sector, where you can&#8217;t automate some aspects, and your vision and experience are hard to convey to a third person.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be that as it may, I realized that worries stem from a problem of <strong>perception and thought<\/strong>. I must be in a positive phase! <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But I came across a fantastic book by a speaker, magician, and comedian: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Mago More (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.magomore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mago More<\/a>. The book is titled: &#8220;Superpowers of Success for Normal People.&#8221;  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you haven&#8217;t read it, I recommend it. It&#8217;s a very affordable book, where all proceeds from its sales go to support two charitable causes.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had been a while since I read such a lucid, sincere, and inspiring reflection. I doubt the author will read this post, but I hope to meet him someday and give him my <strong>thanks<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His story is admirable (you have to read the book to understand it). He is not the typical &#8220;method&#8221; salesman; it&#8217;s a book he wrote selflessly, and from humility and simplicity, he manages to give us a complete methodology to improve many aspects of our personal and professional lives.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I saw myself reflected in some of the problems he addresses, especially at an organizational level. That feeling of chaos and stress that seems like a vicious circle.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He discusses the &#8220;infinite,&#8221; a very simple concept that encompasses everything that absorbs us day by day (emails, calls, budgets, etc.), and distances us from our true goals. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to his advice, I now handle this &#8220;infinite&#8221; better, which used to generate a very high stress factor for me. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I want to highlight three aspects of his book: <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Goals\"><\/span>Goals <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I myself have talked on this blog about the <a href=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/objetivos-pagina-web\/\" rel=\"noopener\">objectives of a website<\/a>, but on a personal and professional level, we don&#8217;t realize that we don&#8217;t set our goals clearly and concisely. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s as <strong>Scott Adams<\/strong>, creator of <a href=\"https:\/\/dilbert.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Dilbert (opens in a new tab)\">Dilbert<\/a>, says: A lot of people want many things, but they are not objectives, they are just mere desires that don&#8217;t translate into action.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I myself have spoken on several occasions about objectives. But don&#8217;t you find that we know how to do something, but we don&#8217;t always do it well? <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And you hear the theory over and over again, but you still do it wrong? <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes it&#8217;s an event, other times a talk, a book, or a movie, whatever it may be, but something happens that inspires you and leads you to true <strong>change<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s as if you always knew it, but that action triggers its true <strong>understanding<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact is that Mago More points out something super simple, but true: &#8220;Goals must be concrete, not abstract, as you don&#8217;t have a plan to address them.&#8221; I liked the example he gives: It&#8217;s not the same to exercise as to walk 10 km a day.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By defining a concrete, measurable, achievable, yet challenging enough goal to induce small change, we take action. But for this, we need two key attitudes:  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Willpower_and_self-control\"><\/span>Willpower and self-control<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I always quote <a href=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/blog\/daniel-kahneman\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Kahneman<\/a>; I consider him one of my favorite authors. More uses his principles of fast and slow thinking, plus an analogy proposed by social psychologist <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Jonathan Haidt (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jonathan_Haidt\" target=\"_blank\">Jonathan Haidt<\/a>, from his book <strong>The Happiness Hypothesis<\/strong>, to explain part of our behaviors: the <strong>metaphor of the elephant and the rider<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s as if our mind is driven by an <strong>elephant<\/strong>. Impulsive, emotional, irrational, it seeks immediate gratification and is lazy by nature.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the elephant, we have a small, <strong>rational rider<\/strong> who likes to plan, is slower, logical, and always tries to control the elephant&#8217;s strength (but doesn&#8217;t always succeed). <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That impulsiveness of the elephant, of wanting to do everything now, diminishes our willpower. But willpower is key to deferring immediate gratification and increasing self-control.  <\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/elefante-mental.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7721\"\/><figcaption>Photo by: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/Twm64rH8wdc?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" target=\"_blank\">Tobias Adam<\/a> courtesy of: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/search\/photos\/elefant?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" target=\"_blank\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As in everything, willpower needs training. As More points out:  <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8220;There are five techniques to prevent our elephant from running wild: the first is to <strong>delay gratification<\/strong>, the second is to <strong>avoid temptations<\/strong>, the third is called <strong>pre-commitment<\/strong>, the fourth is to <strong>awaken the rider<\/strong>, and the fifth consists of training the elephant not to get distracted through the technique of <strong>meditation<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/p><cite>  Mago More<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The whole purpose of training our elephant and setting goals is to be able to create habits. Why? Because habits operate on autopilot. They don&#8217;t force us to think, so we don&#8217;t expend willpower.    <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8220;We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.&#8221;<\/p><cite>  Aristotle<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Motivation_and_method\"><\/span>Motivation and method<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we well know, even if we start a new habit, time can work against us. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do we stay motivated? Well, More suggests that we should identify and write down those <strong>habits<\/strong> that will help us achieve our dreams.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We must trick the brain by introducing distractions and rewards when we don&#8217;t feel like doing something. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More points out that it&#8217;s always better to have a bad method than no method at all, and if you learn to organize yourself a little within the <strong>chaos<\/strong>, you will have enough peace of mind to bring out the best in yourself.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He uses a quote that you&#8217;ve probably seen from Bruce Lee: <\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ku-seo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/be-water.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7716\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Translated: <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. If you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. If you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.     <\/p><cite>  Bruce Lee<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-gif aligncenter\">\n\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-gif-wrapper\" style=\"padding-top:56%\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<iframe src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/kGirnWjxLimje\" title=\"groundhog day\"><\/iframe>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Almost at the end of More&#8217;s book, he makes an incredible analysis of the movie: Groundhog Day by Bill Murray. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He suggests that we all live Groundhog Day, blaming circumstances, when in reality, change lies within ourselves. Honestly, the best \u20ac6 I&#8217;ve spent in years.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you, Jos\u00e9 Luis Izquierdo Mart\u00edn (his real name). I loved your book and apply many principles of your system. I haven&#8217;t yet managed to incorporate all the habits I set for myself, but I&#8217;m following your advice and taking them one by one.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He has a video on YouTube titled: <strong>Willpower<\/strong>. The talk and reflection are very good; I hope you enjoy it:  <\/p>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"La motivaci\u00f3n no basta para cambiar tu vida | Mago More, conferenciante y humorista\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CsGbnenVlvA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I will write about this same topic again in a couple of years; my son will be four by then, and I will tell you about my progress \ud83d\ude09  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See you next month. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Review of Mago More&#8217;s book: &#8220;Superpowers of Success for Normal People.&#8221; How learning to control your goals, willpower, and self-control can lead you to create beneficial habits for your personal and professional life.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[80],"tags":[128,129],"class_list":["post-12233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-daniel-kahneman","tag-mago-more"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos-300x200.png",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"large":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Review of Mago More&#8217;s book: &#8220;Superpowers of Success for Normal People.&#8221; How learning to control your goals, willpower, and self-control can lead you to create beneficial habits for your personal and professional life.  <\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/categoria\/education\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Education<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Wajari Vel\u00e1squez","url":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/autor\/wajari\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos-300x200.png",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"large":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/wajari.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2019-05-Habitos.png",640,426,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Wajari Vel\u00e1squez","author_link":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/autor\/wajari\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Review of Mago More's book: \"Superpowers of Success for Normal People.\" How learning to control your goals, willpower, and self-control can lead you to create beneficial habits for your personal and professional life.","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12233"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12233\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12234,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12233\/revisions\/12234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}