Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap: Becoming Your Future Self

When we set a significant goal, our first instinct is usually to ask, "What do I need to do?" We immediately start crafting to-do lists and action plans. But what if we're starting from the wrong place? What if the real question we should be asking is, "Who do I need to become?"

The Knowing-Doing Gap

Every time we make a committed decision to pursue a meaningful goal, a gap forms—the knowing-doing gap. This isn't just about the distance between where you are and where you want to be in terms of achievements. It's about the gap between who you are now and who you need to become to achieve that goal.

Shifting the Paradigm: From Doing to Being

Instead of jumping straight into action items, take a moment to envision the person who has already achieved your goal. What do they think? How do they carry themselves? What standards do they hold? 

This isn't a new concept—we've all heard the advice to "think like an executive" if you want to become one. But this principle applies to every meaningful goal we pursue.

The magic happens when we create a "to be" list before our "to-do" list. When we understand who we need to become, the right actions naturally flow from that identity.

Consider this: Someone who embodies discipline doesn't need to force themselves to wake up early—they simply do. A person who identifies as health-conscious naturally makes better food choices without constant willpower battles. When we transform our identity, our behaviors align automatically.

Why Motivation Isn't Enough

Relying solely on motivation is like trying to drive across the country on a single tank of gas. Eventually, it runs out. When we focus only on actions without working on our identity, we risk burnout and disappointment. But when we align our actions with who we're becoming, we create sustainable progress that persists even when motivation wanes.

This is why people often fail with New Year's resolutions—they focus on behaviors without addressing the underlying identity that drives those behaviors. Real transformation isn't about forcing new actions; it's about becoming someone new.

Facing Your Terror Barriers

We all encounter terror barriers—those mental obstacles that hold us back from pursuing what we truly want. The good news? These barriers exist only in our minds. They're not physical walls but mental constructs shaped by our programming and experiences. And just as we programmed these barriers, we can reprogram ourselves to move past them.

Each time you push through a terror barrier, you expand your comfort zone and redefine what's possible for you. This is growth in action.

The Journey of Evolution

Looking back even a year or two, you'll likely notice how different you were. The mental silos that once kept you stuck have shifted or dissolved. This is evidence of your capacity for transformation.

As you move toward your goal, you'll go through many evolutions. Each step reveals the next, like stepping stones appearing as you walk across a river.

Remember that transformation isn't linear—it's iterative, with periods of rapid growth followed by integration and consolidation. Embrace this natural rhythm rather than fighting it.

Action vs. Consumption: The Critical Difference

Here's a vital distinction: action is not consumption. You can spend countless hours consuming motivational content, getting those temporary dopamine hits, but transformation only comes through action. Real change requires:

1. Learning
2. Embodying
3. Taking action
4. Growing
5. Repeating this cycle

This is why many people remain stuck despite having access to unprecedented amounts of information. Knowledge without implementation is merely entertainment.

Making It Work for You

To put this into practice:

1. Start by making a committed decision about your goal
2. Create your "to be" list—the attributes of the person who has achieved this goal
3. Honestly assess where you are now
4. Identify the gaps between your current and future self
5. Let your actions flow from this new identity rather than from a place of "should"

For example, if your goal is to build a successful business, your "to be" list might include: resilient, strategic, disciplined, curious, adaptable, and visionary. As you embody these qualities, the specific actions you need to take will become increasingly clear.

Daily Identity Practices

Consider implementing these practices to reinforce your new identity:

• Morning identity affirmations that align with who you're becoming.
• Regular visualization of yourself as having already achieved your goal.
• Surrounding yourself with people who embody the traits you aspire to develop.
• "Identity journaling" where you write from the perspective of your future self.

Remember: You don't need to know every step of the journey. Make the committed decision, take the first step, and trust that the path will reveal itself. The key is to enjoy the journey—if you're not excited about the process, it might be time to recalibrate your goal.

Your transformation isn't just about reaching a destination; it's about becoming the person who can achieve and sustain that success. Start with who you need to be, and the doing will follow naturally.

With love, 

Erin