Why you aren't taking action

You know you want to lose weight. You’ve planned everything in detail. But you still aren’t taking consistent action.

You have a vision of how you want to look, how you want to feel, and the results you want. Yet, despite all of this, you can’t seem to motivate yourself to follow through.

Why can’t I stick to this eating plan?

Why am I not going to the gym?

The answer lies in your thinking patterns. Often, we’re responding to thoughts we aren’t even consciously aware of.

Our thoughts create our feelings, and everything we do in life is driven by how we want to feel.

Feelings drive actions. Actions create results. So if you’re not taking action, it’s because of how you feel. And those feelings are being driven by your thoughts—whether you realise it or not.

Example:

I used to hate going to the gym. No matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t get motivated. I didn’t understand why until I broke it down.

Thought: It’s not making any difference. I’ve done this before, and nothing changed.

Feeling: Demotivated

Action: I skipped the gym.

Result: No improvement in strength or mood. It’s no wonder I wasn’t motivated—if I didn’t believe the gym would make a difference, why would I bother? Would you? But what happens when I consciously choose a different thought?

Thought: I’ve set my minimum baseline, and I won’t break a promise to myself.

Feeling: Determined

Action: I go to the gym.

Result: I gain muscle, lose fat, and feel proud of myself.

What Determines Our Thoughts?

If my thoughts are driving my feelings, actions, and results, then it’s essential to know what I’m thinking. 

The problem is, many of our thoughts operate beneath the surface—we aren’t always aware of them. To change our results, we need to practice identifying those hidden thoughts and then learn how to shift them.

This requires separating yourself from your mind. 

Once you start observing your thoughts, you’ll become more aware of what’s going on inside your head. 

Without this awareness, we can fall into negative thought loops that run on autopilot. Our brains are wired for survival—to avoid pain and seek pleasure—which means if we don’t consciously supervise our thoughts, we may default to negative or unhelpful thinking. 

The Power of Changing Your Thoughts

When you understand that changing your thoughts changes everything else, you gain the power to drive any result and any action. 

Most people try to make changes by focusing only on their actions—what they eat, how much they exercise—but without addressing the underlying thoughts and feelings, it’s a constant battle of willpower.

That’s why losing weight can be so frustrating. We try to change what we eat and how we move, but we’re still stuck in the same negative thought patterns.

The real breakthrough comes when you identify the root cause thought that’s driving your behavior. Once you pinpoint the thought, you have the opportunity to examine it, understand it, and decide whether you want to change it.

What Coaching Really Is

Coaching is all about finding the thoughts behind your habits, actions, or inactions—and then working to change them to create the results you want. 

You can hire a coach, or you can learn to coach yourself. It just takes practice.

For example, my hatred of the gym came from a belief that it didn’t matter. Once I recognised that thought, I had to ask myself why I believed it. Why did I think the gym wouldn’t make a difference? By being curious about my own patterns, I gave myself the space to change my thinking. And once I did, the action followed.

Don’t Force Change

Struggling, forcing, or relying on sheer willpower won’t lead to lasting results. 

Willpower fades. 

You can’t force yourself into a healthier life—you’ll burn out, and you won’t enjoy the process. And what’s life without enjoyment?

Real, sustainable change comes from understanding yourself and your thought patterns. Only then can you shift your thoughts, create new feelings, and drive the actions that lead to results.

So instead of pushing yourself into change, practice observing and changing your thoughts. That’s where the real transformation happens.