group involvement

Tim Ferriss and James Clear discuss the profound impact of social environments on individual behavior. Clear emphasizes that belonging to various groups, whether they are large like a nationality or smaller like a local gym, creates a set of social norms and expectations. He suggests that aligning oneself with groups where the desired behavior is the norm greatly facilitates habit formation and maintenance. This alignment helps to reduce the friction that arises when an individual's behaviors go against group norms, making it challenging to sustain those behaviors over time.

Furthermore, being part of a group where the desired behavior is normal not only makes it easier to adopt those behaviors but also to pick up ancillary habits prevalent in the group. This underscores the deep human need to connect and belong, which often outweighs the desire to improve oneself if it means fitting in with the group. Clear's advice is to intentionally choose groups that support the behaviors you wish to adopt, as this can significantly motivate and sustain your habits1.