What rarely gets talked about when it comes to motivation is identity—who you are, and even more importantly, who you believe you are at your core. Everyone’s searching for the right habits, the perfect routine, the secret system. But none of that matters if you’re not asking the right question:

Who do I think I am?

The two most powerful words in the English language? I am. That’s it. And whatever you put after those two words? That’s your life’s trajectory.

“Your identity is your ceiling—if you want to rise higher, you have to build a new identity.”

Let me make it plain: If you’ve been telling yourself, “I’m not a morning person,” guess what? You’ll never become one. That story becomes your excuse. Every time your alarm rings, you’ve already lost because you’ve pre-written the script: I am someone who sleeps in. I am someone who puts things off. I am someone who waits until tomorrow.

But let’s flip the script. What if instead you told yourself: “I am disciplined. I am the person who does what others won’t. I am the one who shows up when it’s hard.”

Think about a lion. A lion doesn’t hit snooze. A lion doesn’t need motivation. A lion doesn’t second-guess itself when the hunt gets tough. A lion knows who it is. It acts like it.

“The problem isn’t that you’re not motivated. The problem is that your identity is at war with your goals.”

You say you want to get in shape, but you see yourself as someone who’s “always struggled with weight.” You say you want to grow your business, but deep down, you still tell yourself, “I’m not cut out for this.”

That’s the war—and the war is won or lost in the words you say to yourself.

“The strongest force in the human psyche is the need to act consistently with who you believe you are.”

It’s not just a mindset trick. It’s human nature. If you see yourself as a victim, you’ll find ways to stay stuck. If you see yourself as a warrior, you’ll fight like hell for what you want—every single day.

So here’s the hard truth: If you want to change your life, you have to start by changing the story you tell yourself. That means consciously choosing a new identity—one that aligns with your goals. It means no longer saying, “I am lazy. I am unmotivated. I am a procrastinator.” And instead saying:

“I am the person who shows up, no matter what.”
“I am a learner.”
“I am a finisher.”
“I am relentless.”

Identity isn’t what you inherit—it’s what you declare.

Every day, you get to decide: Who am I becoming? What kind of person am I choosing to be?

So I’ll leave you with this:

“Your life will never rise higher than the words you speak to yourself. So speak powerfully. Speak intentionally. And make sure every word you say aligns with the person you’re becoming.”

It’s time to stop waiting for motivation and start owning your identity. The hunt starts now.