Conquering The Mountain Of Change: The 3 Levels Of Lasting Growth
The habits you focus on might not be the ones that matter most.
Most people think improving their lives means doing more workouts, productivity hacks, and self-discipline. But what if the key to real change wasn't about doing more but focusing on the right things?
“Over the years, I've come to a simple realisation: you don't need to do more to improve your life.”
We live in a world that constantly demands our attention, and if we fail to keep up, it makes us feel like we're falling behind.
Perhaps this is why so many people are stuck—caught in cycles of effort that never quite translate into lasting change.
Many have goals for better health, stronger finances, happier relationships, and mental clarity.
But most people get lost in the pursuit because they only see the top of the mountain (the end goal) without fully understanding the climb (process).
If you lower your gaze from the peak, you'll see that the mountain's base runs much deeper—the starting point for successful, lasting change.
Most people try to conquer change at the surface level—lose weight, be more productive, etc. But beneath every visible change, an invisible layer determines the success of those efforts.
The problem? People ignore this foundational level where most of the effort is required.
This hidden foundation is where real, lasting change begins, and if you want it to stick, start focusing on root-level work.
The Three Levels of Lasting Growth
Think of change like climbing a mountain—most people focus on reaching the peak, but the real work happens in the foundation below. Here's how to build from the ground up.
1. The Foundations: Start with the Invisible Needle Movers
Most people chase surface-level habits, but the major shifts come from the small, unseen forces that drive those decisions.
This level is about clarity, mindset, and environment—determining whether you follow through or fall back.
Spend time in solitude. Most people are too distracted to think clearly. Quiet moments—whether journaling, walking, or meditating—help cut through the noise, sharpen your focus, and strengthen your inner resilience.
Guard your mental real estate. Energy, focus, and attention are limited resources—yet they’re often spent on things that drain rather than strengthen them. Spend them wisely.
Invisible Load. Weight isn't always visible. It can come as mental clutter, emotional strain, and unseen responsibilities, leaving you feeling stretched in key areas such as decision-making. Recognise it, lighten it, and protect your capacity.
These are some of the invisible shifts that set the stage for everything else. Without these foundational steps, every new habit is built on a shaky ground.
2. The Progress: Connecting the Invisible to the Visible
Once the foundation is set, you can start connecting internal shifts to external actions.
Most overlook the small, seemingly insignificant habits that drive more significant change. But these micro-actions compound over time.
For example, making your bed isn't just about a tidy room. It's a keystone habit [1]—one that triggers a sequence of other positive behaviours like shaping our intellect, emotions, and even our relationships [2].
What other overlooked habits create massive downstream effects?
Morning sunlight → Better sleep at night.
Drinking water before coffee → Less reliance on caffeine, better hydration.
Journaling for 5 minutes → Lasered thinking, better decisions.
These habits might seem small, but they're leverage points—tiny adjustments that produce immense results.
3. The Completion: Surface-Level Habits that Stick
Now comes the part most people start with—the external, action-driven changes like fitness, nutrition, productivity, and sleep habits.
By this stage, you're not just forcing habits—you're aligning them with an identity that supports them. The work beneath the surface makes the visible changes effortless.
Instead of chasing discipline and willpower, you've built a system that makes success the default.
Final Thoughts
Change isn't about doing more—it's about doing the right things in the correct order.
Most people focus on the mountain's peak, but if you build the foundation first, the apex takes care of itself.
Start where it matters. Work from the ground up. That's how lasting change happens.
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[1] Duhigg, C. (2014). The power of habit: Why we do what we do in life and business (Random House Trade paperback ed). Random House Trade Paperbacks.
[2] Sander, E. (Libby) J., Caza, A., & Jordan, P. J. (2019). Psychological perceptions matter: Developing the reactions to the physical work environment scale. Building and Environment, 148, 338–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.11.020
Thank you for reading.
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