“Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your destiny”

This is one of the MOST PROFOUND THINGS I’ve ever heard. And since hearing those words I have lived by them.  It’s all about the self-talk that we tell ourselves.

Have you ever thought about the power of your thoughts? It’s easy to dismiss the voice in our heads as just "random" chatter, but the truth is, those thoughts shape our entire journey. In midlife, when we’re navigating the aging process, career shifts, or health changes, it's more important than ever to be mindful of what we’re thinking. Why? Because “your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, and your habits become your destiny.”

Let's break this down:

- Your Thoughts Become Your Words: Everything starts with a single thought. How often do you catch yourself thinking, “I can’t do this” or “I’m too tired”? Those thoughts quickly become the words you say out loud to yourself and others. The more you repeat them, the more real they become.

- Your Words Become Your Actions: Once you’ve voiced those thoughts, they influence how you act. Feeling unmotivated to work out? It likely started with the thought, “I don’t have the energy”, followed by saying, “I’ll skip it today.”

- Your Actions Become Your Habits: If you continuously act on these thoughts and words, they become habits. Skipping workouts or neglecting self-care can turn into a lifestyle. But the reverse is true too! Consistently nurturing positive actions builds healthier, more empowering habits.

- Your Habits Become Your Destiny: Ultimately, our habits shape the future. Do you want to live a vibrant, active, and healthy life in midlife and beyond? It all starts with the thoughts you're choosing right now.

Our desires are a great place to start and a fabulous motivator - but it’s our habits and actions that will get us where we want to go.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the role habits play in our lives. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the outcomes we experience—whether in our health, relationships, or career—are often the direct result of the habits we’ve formed, consciously or unconsciously.

Habits are powerful because they operate in the background, influencing our decisions and actions every single day. They can be our greatest ally in achieving our goals, or they can hold us back from reaching our full potential. So today, I want to explore how we can harness the power of habits to create the life we truly desire.

1. Understanding the Habit Loop

First, it’s important to recognize how habits are formed. Every habit consists of a loop with three components: the cue, the routine, and the reward. The cue is the trigger that initiates the habit, the routine is the action you take, and the reward is the positive reinforcement that encourages you to repeat the habit.

For example, if you have a habit of checking your phone first thing in the morning, the cue might be waking up, the routine is reaching for your phone, and the reward is the instant gratification of seeing new messages or notifications. Understanding this loop is the first step in consciously shaping your habits.

 2. Identifying the Habits That Serve You

 Take a moment to reflect on your current habits. Which ones are helping you move closer to your goals, and which ones might be holding you back? Are there habits in your daily routine that contribute to your physical health, mental clarity, or career growth? Conversely, are there habits that drain your energy or distract you from your priorities?

Once you’ve identified the habits that are serving you, lean into them. Make them a regular part of your routine and look for ways to reinforce them. For the habits that aren’t serving you, consider how you might replace them with more positive behaviors.

3. Small Habits, Big Impact

One of the most empowering things about habits is that small changes can lead to significant results over time. You don’t need to make dramatic shifts overnight; instead, focus on incorporating tiny, positive habits into your daily life. These small actions, repeated consistently, can create a ripple effect that transforms your life.

For instance, if you want to improve your productivity, start with a simple habit like setting aside 10 minutes each morning to plan your day. If you want to enhance your well-being, commit to drinking an extra glass of water each day or taking a five-minute break to stretch and breathe. These small habits might seem insignificant on their own, but over time, they build a foundation for bigger changes.

4. The Compound Effect of Consistency

The real magic of habits lies in their compounding effect. When you consistently practice positive habits, the benefits accumulate and amplify over time. This is true whether you’re cultivating healthy habits for your personal life or strategic habits for your career.  For example, if you make it a habit to reach out to one new potential client each week, over the course of a year, you’ll have made 52 new connections. If you dedicate 15 minutes a day to learning a new skill, imagine how proficient you’ll be after several months. The key is consistency—showing up every day and trusting the process, even when the immediate results aren’t visible.

5. Designing Your Ideal Habits

As you think about the life you want to create, consider what habits will support that vision. What daily routines will help you stay aligned with your goals? How can you design your environment to make it easier to stick to these habits? Remember, it’s not about willpower—it’s about setting yourself up for success by making positive habits the path of least resistance.

Start small and be patient with yourself. Habits take time to form, but once they’re established, they can be a powerful force for good in your life.

Moving Forward

Our lives are shaped by the habits we choose to cultivate. By shifting your thoughts, you can change your destiny. Instead of focusing on limitations, start feeding your mind with thoughts of possibility.  By being intentional about the habits we form, we can create the conditions for success, happiness, and fulfillment. It’s a process of small, consistent actions that, over time, lead to the life we envision.

This is why my coaching programs include content on positive mindset and building better habits.  These are the components that allow new information to assimilate and “stick”.

So today, let your words and actions reflect the powerful woman you truly are and watch how your habits lead you to a destiny of vitality and fulfillment.

I encourage you to take a moment to think about the habits that are currently shaping your life. What’s one positive habit you can start cultivating right now? How can you build on the habits that are already serving you?

Join my Private Facebook group The Midlife Menopause Makeover to share your thoughts🌸

In Health & Happiness

Sheryl Vega