Finally, personal change follows the same logic: begin tiny, then compound. Behavioral research on implementation intentions (Peter Gollwitzer, 1999) shows that if-then plans convert abstract goals into automatic actions. BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits (2019) and James Clear’s Atomic Habits (2018) both argue that small, consistent steps alter identity and systems, making future steps easier. In this sense, the forest is not only the grand outcome but also the supportive habitat you build around your next move—so that after one step, the path continues to appear. [...]
