“Try” or “Do”, it’s up to you.
🌱 The Quiet Power of Words
When it comes to our health and happiness, the words we use often reveal the mindset we carry. Words are powerful. They are the steering wheel for the way we live our lives. With small turns and adjustments, our choice of words can quietly change the direction of our wellness.
One of the most common phrases people use is “I’ll try.”
But there is a big difference between trying and doing, especially when it comes to exercise, nutrition, stress management, or improving overall well-being.
You can try different approaches, but you must consistently do them to see if they yield the results that you seek.
⚖️ Trying vs. Doing: What’s the Difference?
Psychologically, the difference between trying and doing is significant.
“Trying” implies making an effort with a possibility of failure. It leaves the door open to quit before results appear.
“Doing,” on the other hand, implies active engagement and commitment to producing a result, removing the option of giving up. Even if failure arises, “doing” keeps us on task so we can learn and take ownership of our actions..
🧠 The Psychology Behind the Words
Research and behavioral psychology suggest that the language we use can influence our behavior and motivation.
According to ideas discussed by The Excelerated Life website, there are several meaningful differences:
Trying
Often signals partial commitment
Leaves room for excuses or escape
Sometimes means thinking about acting
Doing
Reflects full commitment
Requires action and follow-through
Produces measurable results
Imagine someone saying:
“I’ll try to go for a walk tomorrow.” versus “I’m walking tomorrow morning.”
One is a possibility. The other is a plan. 🚶♀️
🏃 Health & Happiness Are Built Through Doing
When it comes to health and happiness, results rarely come from attempts alone. They come from consistent action.
Health habits are like brushing your teeth. 🪥 You don’t wake up and say, “I’ll try to brush my teeth, today.”
You simply do it.
The same mindset works for:
Exercise
Sleep routines
Stress management
Nutrition choices
Time in nature
Family and friend connections
Trying might get you started, but doing is what builds the habit.
🍎 Trying Often Lives in the Future
“Trying” tends to live in the land of tomorrow.
I’ll try to eat better next week.
I’ll try to meditate someday.
I’ll try to get more sleep.
But health improvements happen in the present moment.
Doing says:
I’m making a healthy dinner tonight.
I’m taking five minutes to breathe right now.
I’m going to bed 30 minutes earlier, tonight.
Doing turns health from a concept into a behavior.
🧭 A Better Approach to Personal Change
If you want to move from trying to doing, consider these small mindset shifts:
For the next 24 hours, replace “I’ll try” with “I will.”
Identify as the person you want to become. (e.g., I am a person who exercises. I am a person who eats whole foods. I am a person who meditates.)
Ask yourself:
What health habit have I been “trying” for years?
What would doing it look like this week?
Small, simple mindset shifts can help steer your actions in the direction you want to go.
🌟 The Bottom Line
When it comes to your health and happiness, your body and mind respond best not to intentions — but to actions.
At the end of the day, our health and happiness are not something we try to live.
It’s something we practice daily. 💚