Act like the person you want to be
Make every action a step toward becoming the person you aspire to be.
You’ve decided the kind of person you want to be, whether it’s the kind who can achieve a goal you’ve set or simply the person you aspire to become. To strengthen this desired identity, make choices and take actions that align with it. When you’re about to take an action that impacts who you want to be, pause and ask yourself:
🤔 What would my desired kind of person do?
Then do what that type of person would do. Each aligned action reinforces the person you aspire to be.
Acting like the person you want to be is like tuning an instrument, making small adjustments until it’s perfectly in tune.
For example, if you want to be more disciplined, ask yourself: What would a disciplined person do? Would they keep scrolling on social media or focus on something that matters? Would they say “yes” to a last-minute invite that clashes with an important goal, or would they say “no”? Then make the choice a disciplined person would make. You may need to learn new skills, like saying no without disappointing others, but it will pay off over time.
The same approach works for building healthier habits. For instance, if you want to be the type of person who eats healthy food, ask yourself: What would a healthy eater do? Would they choose cheesecake or fresh fruit for dessert? Would they order a sugary drink or water with their meal? Then make the choice a healthy eater would make.
Immediately after acting in a way that aligns with your desired identity, celebrate by giving yourself a mental high-five or tell yourself, “I’m the kind of person who does that.” This small acknowledgment acts like a mini-reward, making the behavior more satisfying. The more often you align your actions with your desired identity, the easier it becomes to act in line with it, and the more automatic it feels over time.
In the beginning, staying consistent is key to building the identity you want. For example, if you want to be the type of person who never misses a workout, even a quick 5- or 10-minute session helps reinforce that identity. Skipping it would support the old identity you’re trying to change. Over time, as the behavior becomes part of who you are through repetition, consistency becomes less critical.
Make your choices count. Each action is a chance to reinforce the person you aspire to be. Over time, aligned, consistent steps turn intention into your desired identity.
