Have you ever felt like a phony?
Like you weren’t “walking your talk”?
I’m talking about a time when your ACTIONS did not line up with your stated VALUES.
I’ll give you an example. Some people say reading is important to them. But they can’t tell you the last book they read. If they actually valued reading, they’d say, “I read the new Stephen King last week.”
It’s not a simply matter of being inauthentic or disingenuous.
It’s called cognitive dissonance – when your actions don’t match (what you claim to be) your values.
In times of cognitive dissonance, you can try to change your actions, sure.
But if you’re finding that difficult, you should examine your values. For example, around healthy living, if you don’t actually value your health, then you’ll continue struggling to exercise, eat well, and develop other strong habits.
So, start examining yourself.
- Do you cherish health for today and for the future – or is it just something you’re “supposed” to care about?
- Do you understand the connection between daily habits and long-term health – or is it academic at this point?
- How do you see yourself in the future – strong and capable, or weak and helpless?
- Whom do you admire – fit people who glow with vitality, or couch potatoes who can’t be bothered?
You need to decide what’s ACTUALLY important to you. What kind of person you truly want to be.
When you answer those questions, the right actions follow easily.
I believe in you so much that I already know the answers to these questions. I have every faith you can walk your talk – and even learn to RUN with it.
