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3-2-1: Being great today, what to do when things don't go well, and favorite type of mental toughness

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​JAMESCLEAR.COM | DECEMBER 11, 2025

Happy 3-2-1 Thursday!

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Before we begin: The Atomic Habits Workbook is available now!

It features a guided experience for implementing the Atomic Habits methodology in your life. The workbook will walk you through exactly how to build good habits and break bad ones. ⁠

​Click here to learn more and grab your copy.

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And now, this week's issue of 3-2-1...

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3 Ideas From Me

I.

"When things don't go well it's easy to wonder, "Why me?" It's easy to point fingers. It's easy to wallow in frustration or defeat.

But it is also easy to ask, "What is this teaching me?"

You can't remove the frustrations from life, but you can always try to come out a little wiser on the other side."


​II.

"My favorite type of mental toughness is not forcing one path, but being open to many paths: Whatever comes my way, I can handle it. Whatever resources I have, I can make it work. Whatever the day brings, I can thrive."


III.

"Earlier this week I read a line that stood out to me, "Your goal in life should be to reduce the amount of time it takes you to get out of a bad state."

The ability to bounce back quickly is a key skill in life.

My wife once told me, "When you're five, you can be mad for a day. When you're ten, you can be mad for an hour. By the time you're thirty, you get ten minutes—and then you have to move on."

Life is full of moments of frustration and disappointment. Growth and maturity is learning to pull yourself out of a bad state faster."

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2 Quotes From Others

I.

A question from interior designer Rita Wilkins:

"What are you still carrying that isn't yours and is weighing you down?"

Source: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation​​​


​II.

Writer Wallace Wattles on being great today:

"Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now. Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now. Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different environment; act in a great way where you are now. Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to deal in a great way with small things."

Source: The Science of Being Great​

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1 Question For You

Are you doing this because it makes you feel curious and alive, or because inertia makes it easy to continue doing and you're hesitant to let go?

Want to share this issue of 3-2-1? Just copy and paste this link: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/december-11-2025

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Until next week,

James Clear ​​
​Author of Atomic Habits​
Cofounder of
Authors Equity​

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p.s. Feed the boy. ​​

What else am I working on?

Get my book

Read my #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.

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Click here to learn more

The Atomic Habits Workbook

The official companion to Atomic Habits. Filled with simple exercises for building the life you want.

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Click here to learn more

Atoms - the official Atomic Habits app

Build good habits and break bad ones in just five minutes a day. Atoms helps you track your habits and teaches powerful daily lessons right on your device.

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My book recommendations this week

In addition to my own writing, I cofounded a publishing company called Authors Equity to help other authors publish their books. As a result, I get a front row seat to a lot of great books.

Here are a few books I think you'll love:

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Over 1 Million copies sold

​The Simple Path to Wealth ​

Your road map to financial independence and a rich, free life

by JL Collins

​Print . Audio . Ebook​


new york times bestseller

​Don't Believe Everything You Think ​

Why your thinking is the beginning & end of suffering

by Joseph Nguyen

​Print . Audio . Ebook​


OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD

​Almanack of Naval Ravikant​

How to get rich without getting lucky

by Eric Jorgenson

​Print . Audio . Ebook​

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