After my book Better Than Before hit the shelves, I was surprised by how many Rebels contacted me to request more information about how to harness their Tendency.

Don't know about the Four Tendencies? In a nutshell, it distinguishes how people tend to respond to expectations: outer expectations (a deadline, a “request” from a sweetheart) and inner expectations (write a novel in your free time, keep a New Year’s resolution).

Your response to expectations may sound slightly obscure, but it turns out to be very, very important.

Upholders respond readily to outer and inner expectations (I’m an Upholder, 100%)

respond readily to outer and inner expectations (I’m an Upholder, 100%) Questioners question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense–essentially, they make all expectations into inner expectations

question all expectations; they’ll meet an expectation if they think it makes sense–essentially, they make all expectations into inner expectations Obligers meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves

meet outer expectations, but struggle to meet expectations they impose on themselves Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike

You can take a quick quiz to figure out your Tendency here.

As I was writing Better Than Before, I’d assumed that a) Rebels wouldn’t want to read a book about habits, and that b) Rebels weren’t interested in trying to foster habits.

Well, I was wrong! Many Rebels are very interested in learning how to harness the tremendous strengths of both habits and of the Rebel Tendency to help themselves become happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.

In my forthcoming book The Four Tendencies, the Rebel section is actually one of the longest sections, because there’s so much to say, and so much to try, that can work well for Rebels. I include dozens of examples, including many from Rebels themselves.

One challenge, however, is that of the 21 strategies that I've identified that help people make or break their habits, many don't work for Rebels. Popular strategies that work well for other Tendencies — such as the Strategies of Accountability, Monitoring, or Scheduling — don’t work well for most Rebels. And some strategies — such as the Strategies of Convenience, Other People, and Reward — must be carefully adapted for the Rebel perspective.

If you're a Rebel, or you’re working with a Rebel, it’s a huge help to recognize that fact! You will have far greater success if you approach the situation in a Rebel-specific way.

In a nutshell: Rebels resist all expectations, both inner and outer alike. They want to do what they want to do, in their own way, in their own time — and if you ask or tell them to do something, they’re very likely to resist.

Watch this short video to learn more about the Rebel Tendency:





Habit Strategies that Work Best for Rebels:

In Better Than Before , I describe the 21 strategies that we can use to make or break our habits. Twenty-one is a lot, but that’s good — some of the strategies work well for some people, but not others. This is especially true for Rebels. For Rebels, the key strategies are:

Strategy of Identity (most important for Rebels)

For Rebels, the most effective habit-change strategy is the Strategy of Identity. Because Rebels place great value on being true to themselves, they can embrace a habit if they view it as a way to express their identity. “I quit sugar because I respect my body. I want to give myself energy and good health by eating only healthy foods.”

Strategy of Clarity

The Strategy of Clarity works for Rebels, because it focuses on why a habit might have personal value for them. The more Rebels think about what they want, and why they want it, the more effectively they pursue it. “I attend this optional seminar about Photoshop because I’m a creative, curious person who loves to learn about new tools and methods. This class is giving me the knowledge I crave.”

Strategy of Convenience

Instead of trying to commit to scheduling a habit, Rebels often do habit-behaviors as soon as they feel like it. “What a gorgeous day! I feel like going for a run.”

Strategy of Other People

The Strategy of Other People is also a useful strategy for Rebels to consider; Rebels love doing things differently from other people. They do an obscure kind of yoga, run barefoot, exercise late at night. One Rebel wrote to tell me how much she loved being a female bodybuilder.

Note: Rebels tend to resist if you ask or tell them to do anything. It’s very important—but challenging—to avoid setting off their spirit of resistance.

Also, many of the 21 strategies that work well for other Tendencies typically don’t work for Rebels: for instance, Strategies of Scheduling, Accountability, Monitoring, or Rewards.

Looking for strategies for Upholders, Questioners, and Obligers? Click here.

Rebels may also enjoy this interview on the “Happier” podcast, when Elizabeth and I talked to the brilliant Chris Guillebeau, who’s a Rebel.

Chris is the host of the terrific podcast “Side Hustle School,” which aims to help people start side hustles to give themselves more freedom, career choice, and outlets for expression of their interests and talents. Freedom, choice, doing things your own way…do those values sound familiar? Rebel! Though lots of people who aren’t Rebels love side hustles, too, of course.

Join the Discussion

If you’re intrigued by the Four Tendencies, and want to join the lively discussion on my Better app, sign up! It’s free. You can start or join an accountability group (Obligers, I know many of you want to do that!), ask questions, have discussions about your own Tendency or dealing with someone else’s Tendency. Say, you’re a Rebel who is having trouble controlling your blood sugar, or you’re the parent of a Rebel who wants to drop out of high school. You can swap questions, ideas, and solutions.

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Gretchen Rubin is the author of the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, Better Than Before, The Happiness Project, and Happier at Home. She writes about happiness and habit-formation at gretchenrubin.com. Follow her here by clicking the yellow FOLLOW button, on Twitter, @gretchenrubin, on Facebook, facebook.com/ GretchenRubin. Or listen to her popular podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin.