What’s in a Word? Unlocking Habit Consistency

Turns out, for building lasting habits, a single word can carry a whole story.

A couple of years ago, I struggled to establish any kind of exercise routine in my life. I know, I know—it's not exactly the confession you expect from a health coach! But that was me, until I discovered the most motivating and inspiring word to frame my approach to exercise. Associating this word with movement, consistently using it to guide my perspective, and building a whole narrative around it became one of the biggest keys to creating a consistent, satisfying, and health-promoting exercise routine that still serves me today.

Here’s the story behind that transformation…

A few years ago, I was wrestling with consistency around movement when I stumbled across a podcast featuring health psychologist and author Dr. Kelly McGonigal. She had a profound take on exercise, framing it as a source of both physical and emotional nourishment. Nourishment. That was the word that clicked for me.

At the time, I already viewed food as nourishment—not just fuel—and made a point to nourish my body with wholesome, nutrient-rich choices. But I had never drawn that connection between exercise and nourishment. I had never thought of movement as a way to nourish my body emotionally and physically. That one simple word—nourishment—shifted everything for me. It felt so aligned with my values, and it helped me begin to see exercise not as a “chore” or something to force myself to do, but as a vital, self-care practice.

By attaching the word nourishment to exercise, I was able to integrate it into my self-narrative—the story I told about who I am and what I value. And when something becomes part of your story, you’ll often move mountains to make it happen. For me, that shift made all the difference.

To me, the word “nourishment” evokes images of natural, grounded care—taking the time to do things that nurture both my physical vitality and emotional well-being. Thinking about exercise as nourishment expanded my motivation to move. It broadened my understanding of movement itself.

Whereas I once viewed exercise as something I had to do in a gym or in a structured class, now I saw movement as a wide range of activities that could nourish me in different ways.

Bushwalking, strength training and boxing in my garden, Qigong on the beach, and swimming in the ocean—these activities became part of my movement routine, each one aligned with what nourishes me most: being immersed in nature. When we feel good, we’re more likely to stick with the activities that make us feel that way.

So, what’s your word? What is that one simple shift in language that could help unlock the power within you to establish and maintain the healthy habits you’re focusing on?

Find your word. Let it become part of your story. And watch how it transforms your approach to what you want to achieve.