What would happen if your thoughts and beliefs became congruent with your actions

I love to be active.

At times, it is all consuming. I workout multiple times a day at all hours before I crash at night. I love it. For a very long time, my actions spoke for me. I didn't have to say or think anything as active was who I was.

But as I moved out to Utah, I found other activities beyond just lift, swim, bike, run.

I found consistent hiking, consistent snowboarding, active friends doing cool or different events.

I've also found people who I enjoy spending time with, that I've pulled back on my "head down and grind" lifestyle I held in dark and cold Chicago winters.

Which is fantastic. I feel like I am learning and experiencing so much in my life.

But my identity as a fit and athletic person feels like it has drifted. And that is because my actions wavered from my thoughts and beliefs of being active.

Don't get me wrong, I am working out 6 days a week in some capacity. But. I fell off from my word.

A run planned? Eh I'll lift instead.

Swim after work? Eh I'll go home and hang out with my roommate instead.. I'll do the swim tomorrow. (Which I do).

I've compromised my actions and my promises to myself. This has had direct correlation to my confidence and my belief in "I am an athlete".

Maybe in some ways it's positive. If I somehow lose my ability to be active how I want, what would my identity be?

But then again. I love this identity. And I want to feel confident in my physical feats. In order to feel confident in what I think I want in life, I ask myself to no longer think or try and begin doing again.

8pm workout sessions are late, but in many ways I love them and feel so satisfied after they are complete.

How do you get yourself to align your thoughts and beliefs with your actions?

Start small.

You want to become more regular with your painting. So get your materials out, set up and ready to go so that excuse goes away.

Accomplished that? Paint the canvas' background color. Or paint for a set 5 minute timer. Eventually you may get to an hour straight of work. But for now, get in the habit of showing up to your easel.

Trying to eat better? Start with a clean kitchen. You can't make meals if your dishes are dirty and there is no space to work.

Accomplished that? Consistent with it, upgrade to cooking one meal a week, or twice a week (whatever level you are starting at, upgrade a small notch). You got that down? You may eventually get to every single meal.

Meal prep a struggle? Meal prep one type of meal, for instance your lunches and only your lunches for the week. Build from there.

The only way to align who you want to be with who you are is through actions.

It doesn't have to be life changing-throw out every sweet you own- or

Paint/write/create for 2 hours every day no exceptions.

If you want to create new habits, you need to act. And become the type of person who does it.

"A writer writes everyday." Start with 5 minutes and go from there.

"A healthy person chooses whole foods first" Start with an apple and go from there.

Positive action towards your goals, beliefs or dreams requires just that, action. One step at a time.

For me, This looks like getting in the workout when I planned it. And meal prepping my lunches for the week. And writing on this blog site once a week.

If I do more, Fantastic. But those are actions that are small enough for where I am currently to create success, momentum and realign my identity with who I want to be.