A Life Of Action
Change your actions, change your life.
Learn why (and how) below.
Over and over in my coaching practice I see a pattern:
People read the books, listen to the podcasts, scroll through other people’s highlight reels but nothing changes until they act.
You can’t think your way into a different life, you have to live it.
Here’s what the research and some timeless thinkers say about why action matters and how you can start shifting yours today.
1. Happiness Is a Verb, Not a Theory
Aristotle argued that happiness is “activity of the soul in alignment with excellence.” In other words, virtue and fulfillment grow from repeated action, not just good intentions or insight. Like shooting free throws or learning guitar, the good life is a skill you practice.
Try this: Write down one small behavior that expresses a core value of yours. Do it today. Then do it again tomorrow. The repetition is what builds the virtue. If you don’t know your values, think about the times in your life you’re the most fulfilled, what is a character trait you’re representing at that time.
2. Habits Carve the Canyon
William James likened habit formation to a saw cutting a groove in wood the first cuts are hardest, then the groove guides your hand. Neural pathways work the same way: your first few reps of a new habit are critical for survival of that pathway.
Try this: When you set a new goal, act on it immediately in some small way. Give that first “cut” the best chance of success by choosing something you WILL be successful at not matter how “small”. Don’t wait for the perfect plan.
3. Attention Is the Currency of Your Life
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described flow, the optimal state where time disappears and you’re fully absorbed. Attention is the price of admission. Spend too much of it watching other people’s flow states online and you rob yourself of the skills to enter your own.
Try this: Schedule one block this week to do something challenging but meaningful with your full attention (run, create, play music). No multitasking, no scrolling. For best results choose an activity that challenges all of your skill to accomplish, not too easy, not impossible. This is: The Art of Flow.
4. Repetition + Environment = Lasting Change
Research on habits (Wood & Neal, 2016) shows knowledge alone doesn’t change behavior. Context cues, repetition, and friction do. Habits stick best when “stacked” next to habit you are already doing and when unwanted habits are made harder (friction).
Try this: Pair a new habit with an existing cue (e.x. do 10 push-ups after brushing teeth). Remove friction for the positive (lay out running shoes) and add friction for the negative (keep sweets out of the house).
Quick Practices
Pick one small action aligned with your values and repeat it daily.
Act on a positive goal immediately even a tiny step. Speed and Success are Key!
Block “flow time” on your calendar to practice full attention.
Make desired habits easier and undesired habits harder.
Track your reps, not your intentions.
Resources to Go Deeper
Aristotle on ethics and virtue (Melchert, 2014)
William James, Principles of Psychology (habit and attention)
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow (optimal experience)
Final Thought
It’s easy to be entranced by watching others live well or by endlessly preparing. But ,
nothing changes if nothing changes.
Start carving the groove today. Through lived experience you’ll miss sometimes, you’ll adjust, and you’ll get closer to the bullseye of your life.
If you’d like 1:1 support applying these ideas to your life or business team, please reach out.
With heart,
Mike
