I spent years fighting myself.
I’d set a goal—exercise daily, write consistently, build in public—then white-knuckle my way through it until I burned out.
The problem wasn’t discipline. It was identity.
I was trying to exercise while believing I’m lazy. Trying to write while believing I’m not a writer. Trying to build while believing I’m not a builder.
Every action contradicted the story I was telling myself.
So my brain did what brains do: it fought me. Made every rep feel like punishment. Made every sentence feel forced. Made every post feel fake.
The fix isn’t more willpower. It’s changing the story.
I don’t “try to exercise”—I’m someone who moves. I don’t “try to write”—I’m a writer. I don’t “try to build”—I’m a builder.
This isn’t affirmation garbage. I still do the work. But when my identity aligns with my actions, the work stops feeling like war.
Be → Behave → Have
Change the story, change everything.