It's Not What You Say, It's What You Do: The Importance of Aligning Words With Actions
Words hold a lot of power. They can comfort, inspire, and shape our narratives. But what often matters way more that words, are our actions - things we actually do to give weight to our words.
Think about how often people try to convince others (or even themselves) of a truth through words alone. “I love you.” “I care about my health.” “I want to change.” These are powerful statements, but what happens when the actions that follow don’t match? Words can create a story, but actions build the reality.
Actions Do Speak Louder Than Words
Words can make us feel safe, understood, or reassured, but they can only convince us on a surface level. Eventually, we need evidence of what someone truly values, believes, or prioritizes. This applies to the way we treat others and the way we treat ourselves.
For example, if you tell someone you love them, would your behavior make that love obvious? Would it be clear in the way you listen, show up, and prioritize them?
If someone only observed your actions, without hearing your words, would they be able to tell what actually matters to you?
The same goes for self-care. If you say self-care is important to you, what specific behaviors support that? Do you set boundaries, rest when you need to, and nourish yourself in meaningful ways? Or do you find yourself saying self-care matters, while continuously putting yourself last?
When Words and Actions Diverge?
We often have the best intentions, but sometimes our behaviors don’t fully align with what we claim to value. Why? It’s usually because:
We’re on autopilot, stuck in habits that don’t serve us.
We believe we need permission to act differently.
We fear change, even when we say we want it.
We use words as a stand-in for action because action requires more effort.
The good news? This is an invitation to pause and get curious, not judge ourselves. Noticing where there’s a gap between what we say and what we do gives us a chance to realign our actions with our true priorities.
Aligning Words And Actions
If you realize there’s a disconnect, don’t force yourself into rigid change overnight. Instead, ask yourself:
What actions would support my priorities?
If I couldn’t use words to explain myself, how would I show love, care, or commitment?
Am I saying things because they sound good, or because I deeply believe them?
What would it look like to live in a way that makes my words unnecessary?
At the end of the day, we are what we repeatedly do, not just what we say. The most honest thing we can do for ourselves is to bring our words and actions into harmony.