---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a habit to stay changed, people must…"
description: "\"For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible.\" — Charles Duhigg"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png"
---

#  For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is…

![“For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible.” quote by Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png)

> “For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible.”

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People need to believe change is possible to sustain a new habit.

**In simple terms:** Belief fuels habit change.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate confidence in change to keep habits.

Themes

psychology habit formation belief

Mood

encouraging reflective

Type

self‑help motivational

When to use this quote

- personal health
- skill learning
- organizational change
- education programs

Key Concepts

self‑efficacy behavioral change

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence supports your belief in change?
- How can you reinforce belief daily?

A Different Perspective

Belief alone may not overcome environmental obstacles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-change/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Change Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-possible-275680/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-believe/) [Stay Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-changed-5352386/)

## Related quotes

> [You've got to get people to believe that change is possible... You have to show that you can fight things successfully even if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/you-ve-got-to-get-people-to-believe-that-change-is-possible-you-have/)

[Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/)

> [Many leaders of big organizations, I think, don't believe that change is possible. But if you look at history, things do change, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-page/many-leaders-of-big-organizations-i-think-don-t-believe-that-change/)

[Larry Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-page/)

> [“First, believe that change is possible. It's what will have the greatest impact on your effort, your habits, your motivation; and ultimately, your success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-ballay/first-believe-that-change-is-possible-it-s-what-will-have-the/)

[E. Ballay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-ballay/)

> [The reason why we believe that change is possible is not because we are idealists but because we believe we have made it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/the-reason-why-we-believe-that-change-is-possible-is-not-because-we/)

[Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/)

> [If you believe you can change - if you make it a habit - the change becomes real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-believe-you-can-change-if-you-make-it-a-habit-the-change/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“I use to worry about how hard it would be to stay the same. So I changed. Then I worried about how hard it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-alecia-smith/i-use-to-worry-about-how-hard-it-would-be-to-stay-the-same-so-i/)

[Kimberley Alecia Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-alecia-smith/)

> [“All the things that stay the same... and everything that's changed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huntley-fitzpatrick/all-the-things-that-stay-the-same-and-everything-that-s-changed/)

[Huntley Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huntley-fitzpatrick/)

> [“Only very young people believe that change is always for the better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nava/only-very-young-people-believe-that-change-is-always-for-the-better/)

[Michael Nava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nava/)

> [“Change is possible. You must want it enough for the change to take place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/change-is-possible-you-must-want-it-enough-for-the-change-to-take/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Significant and seemingly impossible social and political change happens more often than we think, and it happens more rapidly than we realize. Even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/significant-and-seemingly-impossible-social-and-political-change/)

[Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/)

> [One of the most powerful forces in human nature is our belief that change is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/one-of-the-most-powerful-forces-in-human-nature-is-our-belief-that/)

[Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/)

> [The only thing that makes change possible is the idea of developing some kind of institution, because the institutions will survive individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/the-only-thing-that-makes-change-possible-is-the-idea-of-developing/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [The more youth begin to recognize that they have a voice, the more change is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/the-more-youth-begin-to-recognize-that-they-have-a-voice-the-more/)

[Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/)

> [“Real change is possible, of course, but it's hard to achieve because you have to contend with your underlying biological predisposition as well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-gosling/real-change-is-possible-of-course-but-it-s-hard-to-achieve-because/)

[Sam Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-gosling/)

> [Acceptance is the magic that makes change possible. It is not forever, it is for the present moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/acceptance-is-the-magic-that-makes-change-possible-it-is-not-forever/)

[Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/)

## More by Charles Duhigg

> [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“What matters are five key norms,” he told the audience. Teams need to believe that their work is important. Teams need to feel their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/what-matters-are-five-key-norms-he-told-the-audience-teams-need-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America has always had an apocalyptic strain. Yet it also seems to believe that if, or when, The End comes, it will still come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-has-always-had-an-apocalyptic-strain-yet-it-also-seems-to/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Bromates are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, but officials are required to test for them only when water leaves a treatment plant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/bromates-are-regulated-by-the-safe-drinking-water-act-but-officials/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [America is the Saudi Arabia of coal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/america-is-the-saudi-arabia-of-coal/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/habits-scientists-say-emerge-because-the-brain-is-constantly-looking/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Older Americans are perfect telemarketing customers, analysts say, because they are often at home, rely on delivery services, and are lonely for the companionship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/older-americans-are-perfect-telemarketing-customers-analysts-say/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“All our life, so far as it has definite form, is but a mass of habits - practical, emotional, and intellectual - systematically organized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/all-our-life-so-far-as-it-has-definite-form-is-but-a-mass-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“Someday soon, say predictive analytics experts, it will be possible for companies to know our tastes and predict our habits better than we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/someday-soon-say-predictive-analytics-experts-it-will-be-possible-for/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“I love Paul O'Neill, but you could not pay me enough to work for him again" one official told me. "the man has never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/i-love-paul-o-neill-but-you-could-not-pay-me-enough-to-work-for-him/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“THE FRAMEWORK: • Identify the routine • Experiment with rewards • Isolate the cue • Have a plan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/the-framework-identify-the-routine-experiment-with-rewards-isolate/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Barium, which is commonly found in power plant waste and scrubber wastewater, has been linked to heart problems and diseases in other organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/barium-which-is-commonly-found-in-power-plant-waste-and-scrubber/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [A movement starts because of the social habits of friendship and the strong ties between close acquaintances. It grows because of the habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/a-movement-starts-because-of-the-social-habits-of-friendship-and-the/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [“In some sense, he said, a community was a giant collection of habits occurring among thousands of people that, depending on how they’re influenced,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-some-sense-he-said-a-community-was-a-giant-collection-of-habits/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

[Explore all 293 Charles Duhigg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Duhigg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must-believe-change-is-possible/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must-believe-change-is-possible/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/charles-duhigg-1088_believe_for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must_1580250.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For a habit to stay changed, people must believe change is possible.” — Charles Duhigg",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Duhigg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For a habit to stay changed,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must-believe-change-is-possible/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/for-a-habit-to-stay-changed-people-must-believe-change-is-possible/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
