Most people think that what they do determines who they are—and that’s true. If you design a thousand logos, then you must be a logo designer. Once you keep doing something, your identity will take shape based on what you do.

What if you flip it around? What if you give yourself an identity and then let it lead your actions?

Say you struggle to work out regularly. Try identifying yourself as a bodybuilder—going to the gym then becomes an obvious thing a bodybuilder would do.

It’s almost like “fake it till you make it.” Once you adopt an identity for yourself, you start to dress the part, act the part, and live the part. It’s like a play where you’re the actor; you even get to choose which role you’d like to play and how your story will unfold. You stop negotiate with yourself with the what ifs, you figure out a way to fit your identity.

I read somewhere about a recovering alcoholic’s response when offered a drink: “No, thank you, I’m trying to stay sober” versus “No, thank you, but I don’t drink.” Both sound pretty similar, but the second response gives him the identity of a non-drinker, whereas the first response implies he loves to drink but is choosing not to.

Choose your identity and let it lead your actions. Once your identity is clear, you’ll know what you need to do.