"Act as If": A Simple Way to Win Your Day

This strategy works when you 
are trying to make a positive
lifestyle change.


𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨:

Want to be a healthy eater,
an early riser, a daily writer,
an avid runner?

Act as if you already are.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬:

Each of us has a story we tell ourselves that weaves together
autobiographical history and future aspirations into an
understanding of “who I am” at any given moment.

Guess who controls that narrative?

𝐘𝐎𝐔.

We are each the author of our own life story.

We control our narrative and can use that power
to manifest our desired future.

How cool is that?!

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬:

1. Get clear on the identity you want to live into
2. “Act as if” you already are that aspirational version of yourself.

It’s like “fake it til you make it” for habit formation.

Want to be a “healthy person” (identity)?

When you’re at a restaurant
choosing what to have for dinner,
decide “as if” you are a healthy person.

Ask yourself what a healthy person would order, and order it.

Then celebrate the win.

James Clear refers to this process as
“proving your identity to yourself”.

It’s a simple process, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

𝐓𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝:

👉 Internalize the desired identity.

Tell yourself daily “I am a [desired identity].”
Then channel Mel Robbins and give yourself a high five!

👉 Keep choosing and acting “as if”.

Delegate your daily decisions to
your desired future self and
do what she/he would do.

As Clear points out,
“the more you repeat a behavior, the more you 
reinforce the identity associated with that behavior”

👉 Celebrate.

Notice and celebrate every single time
you live into that desired identity
so you keep showing up.


Pic: Me living into my desired identity as an Avid Cyclist.

Ollie and I on the Adirondack Rail Trail
He did a solid 15 miles that day (PB is 34!) 👅