Are You a Thinker or a Doer?

If we ever met in person, it would take you less than five seconds to learn at least one thing about me:

I’m a diehard Pittsburgh sports fan.

Whether we meet in person and you see my tattoo, license plates, laptop…or we meet virtually and you see the Steelers helmet, bobble heads, posters, beer cans…

I mean it’s a lot.

Even though I’ve lived in New England for almost 16 years, I will always identify with my roots. Which is why when people ask why I’m not a Pats’ fan, I can’t answer the question because I’ve already slammed the door in their face.

Kidding, kidding.

I’d shut it firmly.

I’m not just from Pennsylvania – I’m a yinzer (google it).

Going back to the question I asked to start - are you a thinker or a doer - your answer has everything to do with well, everything.

We tend to label ourselves with identities based on past experiences. Some of my greatest hits are that I’m a procrastinator, I’m a sh** show, I’m disorganized…I'm a terrible cook, I'm not a morning person...

The challenge with those labels is that when I try to make changes to improve on those behaviors, I’m already fighting an uphill battle because I don’t think of myself as the kind of person who: gets tasks done early, puts underwear on before pants, or has any kind of system for...uh...anything...

I’ve written before that the way we talk to ourselves has a lot to do with our ability to make behavior change that sticks, but the way we refer to ourselves and think about ourselves is also a crucial part the skill of making change.

If I want to stop being a procrastinator, the first skill that I can practice (and remember, making change taks practice), is to embrace a new identity. One of the first places to begin in this process is believing that you are already the kind of person who can change.

That whole teaching old dogs new tricks and whatnot.

Think about one of the changes you’re working on. And then complete this sentence “I’m the kind of person who….”

I’ve been trying this one out recently as it relates to my golf game. Typically when I refer to myself and golf, I say that I’m a hacker. My past performance has illustrated that for sure.

But I'm actually not a hacker. I'm the kind of person who is taking lessons and implementing new techniques that are inching my game forward every time go out.

I know, it seems like a subtle difference. But the way you identify yourself matters when working on habit change.

So think about the habit that you're working on, and then write you're own ending to this statement, "I'm the kind of person who..."

As James Clear, author of "Atomic Habits" says, each time you take an action related to your goals and aspirations, no matter how small, you are casting a vote for the kind of person you want to be.