Don’t Mind the Gap!
I first read about the “Gap Between Knowing and Doing” many years ago in Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and it hit me hard. At the time, I thought it was just me that was continually stuck between my reality and my goals, but the years have shown that this Gap is an inescapable part of the human condition.
The Gap between
KNOWING you should study every night and DOING it all the night before the test.
KNOWING you don’t want to yell at your kids and DOING it anyway.
KNOWING you want to read and journal and DOING an all night Netflix binge.
KNOWING vegetables and whole foods are optimum and DOING Atkins / Paleo / meat diets.
KNOWING your cholesterol and blood sugar can be lowered and DOING nothing about it.
KNOWING your $ supports unsustainable food production and DOING your best to forget it.
KNOWING your vote is a privilege and DOING minimal research on the issues.
KNOWING to separate colors from white clothing and DOING one big load of laundry. In Hot!
We are all in a Gap of some sort. That’s why when someone gives us advice or feedback, the universal answer is “I know… I know…”
We KNOW.
But we DON’T.
What if there is absolutely nothing wrong with this condition.
What if instead of judging yourself or anyone else who should “know better,” we just understood that the awareness of being in the Gap is 1000 times more powerful if it is not reinforced by shame, blame, anger, condemnation, or self-loathing.
What if instead we noticed the Gap with curiosity?
If you are struggling with avoiding animal products and embracing a Plant Based / Vegan diet, that’s the signal that you’re in the Gap between
KNOWING what you want to eat and DOING something else.
I know what you’re thinking.
“If I am just ‘curious’ I will never do the thing that I KNOW I should.”
I am here to tell you that the fastest way to evolve and grow into integrity in any area where your current behavior does not match your ideals is to be
Curious, Compassionate,
Open and Loving.
There is a reason you aren’t eating the Plant Based Whole Foods that you say you want to, and until you get curious and understand what that thought is, you will stay in the Gap.
Thoughts like:
It’s too hard.
I’m too old.
I don’t like vegetables.
I will have to cook all the time.
I don’t want to be told what to do.
I just want to eat like everyone else. People will make fun of me.
My spouse never supports me. I still have a leather couch.
It’s impossible when I travel. The kids will complain.
I always fail at these changes.
Unless I’m 100% perfect it’s pointless.
When you find the thought that is getting in your way, you can see your way forward. It’s the same with any Gap.
Don’t Mind the Gap.
That’s where ALL your power to evolve and change and grow is. Anytime you find yourself stuck, get curious.
Ask yourself,
what are you thinking that makes the DOING so much harder than the KNOWING?
I would love to help you with that.
I created the Vedge Your Best coaching method to help anyone who wants to limit or eliminate animal products do just that, simply and happily.
I never thought that I could commit to practicing a Vegan diet until I stopped thinking that.
Email me at info@micheleolendercoaching.com to set up an appointment to discuss how coaching can help you with whatever goal you have.
