Axis Conversations Justin Whitmel Earley on The Transformative Power of Habits
Dec 9, 2025
Justin Whitmel Earley, an author and mergers and acquisitions lawyer, discusses the transformative power of habits in spiritual formation. He opens up about his battle with anxiety and the life-changing impact of adopting limits. Justin critiques modern American habits and emphasizes how they contribute to health issues. He shares insights on creating healthy tech habits for teens and highlights the importance of modeling them as parents. Ultimately, he offers practical advice on starting new habits, stressing the significance of persistence in spiritual growth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Conversion To A Habit-Formed Life
- Justin Earley recounts becoming a missionary in China then returning to law and unconsciously adopting unhealthy lawyer habits.
- That assimilation produced an anxiety crash that led him to adopt a deliberate rule of life.
Habits Drive The Heart
- Earley explains habit drives roughly 40% of daily behavior, so unchosen habits shape us more than conscious decisions.
- He calls people "of the gap" when their minds want one thing but their habitual behaviors pull another direction.
The American Rule Of Life
- Earley names the "American rule of life" as an unchosen program producing anxiety, consumerism, and loneliness.
- He argues modern lifestyle patterns, especially tech habits, systematically create poor mental-health outcomes.
