Immediately after I put on my shirt this morning my confusion helped me notice it was backwards. This phenomenon reflects what’s too often forgotten: Logic most often follows emotion.  

People actually stick to actionable change when there’s an emotionally compelling reason. If logic alone worked, obesity, abuse, and accidents wouldn’t be happening. 

Horton the Elephant and George Patton said it out loud: “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” When the two don’t jibe, your mind and body fight. Values aligned with action is the congruence of saying something — and meaning it. 

Here’s an activity to emotionally charge your current goal. 

What are you saying? The following compel reasons for change.

Know what you say about yourself. Who are you in the stories you tell yourself? How do you describe yourself to others? Listen for which character(s) in your story help you to become more of what you want to be, or to do more of what you want to become; listen for which don’t. 

Know what you say you value. What is your deeply held, core belief? What meaning governs your life? Listen for congruence between those deeply held beliefs and who you say you are; listen for the gaps and divergence.   

What do you mean? The following compels change. 

Prioritize meaning. What do you consistently do every day? Weekly? Who or what compels devoted time, attention, and energy (resources)? Look for actions that match your values. Leverage small, micro chunks of resources for practicing behaviors that are congruent with your beliefs and who you say you are. 

Shape meaning. What things in your environment compel action? How do objects or systems reflect your thinking, doing, and being? Look for reactions that match your values. Leverage structured, space-fillers for responses congruent with your beliefs and who you want to become.