If You Want to Change Your Actions, First Change Your Values

If You Want to Change Your Actions, First Change Your Values

Have you ever felt like a phony?

Like you weren’t “walking your talk”?

I’m talking about a time when your ACTIONS did not line up with your stated VALUES.

I’ll give you an example. Some people say reading is important to them. But they can’t tell you the last book they read. If they actually valued reading, they’d say, “I read the new Mel Robbins book last week.”

It’s not simply a matter of being inauthentic or disingenuous.

It’s called cognitive dissonance – when your actions don’t match (what you claim to be) your values.

In times of cognitive dissonance, you can try to change your actions, sure.

But if you’re finding that difficult, you should examine your values.

For example, around getting healthy by training for a triathlon, if you don’t actually value your health, then you’ll continue struggling to do the training, eat right, and develop good habits around that value.

So, start examining yourself.

  • Do you cherish health for today and for the future – or is it just something you’re “supposed” to care about?
  • Do you understand the connection between daily habits and long-term health – or is it academic at this point?
  • How do you see yourself in the future – strong and capable, or weak and helpless?
  • Whom do you admire – Successful triathletes who glow with vitality, or couch potatoes who can’t be bothered?

You need to decide what’s ACTUALLY important to you. What kind of person you truly want to be. 

When you answer those questions, the right actions follow quickly and effortlessly.

I believe in you so much that I already know the answers to these questions. I have every faith you can walk your talk – and even learn to RUN with it.

If you’re like me and you value a long-term healthy lifestyle, my 16-Week Triathlon Transformation Program is an excellent way to “walk the walk” of your values.

The Triathlon Transformation Program focuses on you as an individual; your form, technique, strength, fueling, and mindset. Through video analysis, metabolic testing, holistic lifestyle coaching, and a supportive community, you will achieve all your triathlon dreams and goals by embodying what it means to value a healthy lifestyle.

If you’re ready to start “walking your talk”, fill out my Triathlon Transformation Program Application and let’s get started!

“The Iron Man Finish Line is easily the MOST awesome place on earth.” – Brad Hobbs

One of my swim group clients, Brad Hobbs and I met once a week for a few months before his Iron Man Triathlon. Recently, I emailed Brad to see how it went. Below is his reply:

PROGRESSION
Slow and awesome. Really…really….really….hot. 97-98 degrees and much hillier than expected. People were dropping like flies on the bike and run due to heat, once I saw that I wisely slowed up and thought “Just finish.” I didn’t want to spend a year training and then have to DNF because of overheating. Biking took about 45 minutes longer than expected. I started off strong on the run and between the 7th and 9th mile, I had a stomach issue. Nothing sounded good and I did a bad job forcing calories down. After a uuuhhh,pitstop…. I felt good and just did the Iron Man shuffle, jog, crawl from about mile 10 all the way to the end.

SWIMMING
As terrible of a swimmer as I am, I’ll be 100% honest. It was the easiest part of any triathlon I have ever completed. Other than your weekly class, I only did a hand-full of long pool sessions so I was a little worried. The big thing your class helped me with was heart rate and breath control, just getting into a groove. I never once felt panicked or like I was working. The gun went off and I just had a nice and relaxing dip in the lake. I was expecting to be on the slow side between 1:30 and 1:40 but I finished at 1:25 and got out of the water totally pumped! That’s a credit to your teachings being put to use!

THE FINISH LINE
The Iron Man finish line is easily the MOST awesome place on earth. I put a beer in my special needs bag and cracked it open in the last mile, chugging as I crossed the finish line. Best moment of my life.

DOING IT AGAIN
I’m not sure how much mentally I’m ready to hard train for something. Iron Man training took a lot out of me, but I definitely want to complete another one. I learned soooo much in the first one.

“The Iron Man Finish Line is easily the MOST awesome place on earth.” – Brad Hobbs