“On meurt deux Source fois, je le vois bien : > > Cesser d’aimer & d’être aimable, > > C’est une mort insupportable : > > Cesser de vivre, ce n’est rien.”
We often wait for the perfect moment to change. We look for inspiration before we start a project. We hope for motivation before hitting the gym. However, this approach gets the equation backward. We erroneously believe that right thinking must precede right action. In reality, the opposite is true. You change your mind by moving your body. Action generates momentum. Therefore, waiting for the right mindset often leads to stagnation.
This concept has circulated for nearly a century. It suggests a powerful truth about human psychology. We can control our actions more easily than our thoughts or feelings. Consequently, if we change what we do, our internal state will eventually align with our external behavior. This principle offers a practical roadmap for personal growth. It removes the pressure to “feel” ready. Instead, it invites us to simply begin.
The Power of Inverse Transformation
Most people believe that change starts internally. They think they must analyze their problems first. Then, they expect behavior to shift. However, this cognitive-first approach often fails. It leads to “paralysis by analysis.” We overthink every step. We worry about potential failure. Thus, we never actually take the first step.
In contrast, the “action-first” method bypasses these mental blocks. You force a change in behavior. This creates cognitive dissonance. Your brain realizes your actions do not match your old self-image. To resolve this tension, your mind updates its software. You start thinking like the person you are acting like.
For example, consider a writer who feels blocked. She waits for inspiration. It never comes. However, if she forces herself to write 500 words of nonsense, something shifts. The act of typing greases the gears. Suddenly, ideas flow. She acted her way into a creative mindset. She did not think her way into a creative action.
Uncovering the Roots in the 1930s
This wisdom did not appear overnight. Its history stretches back to the early 20th century. Historians have tracked the phrase through various modifications.
A local newspaper covered this event. It noted that a speaker used a specific phrase. He said, “It is easier to act yourself into right thinking than to think yourself into right acting.”
However, the report left one detail unclear. Two men spoke at the convention. John S. White served as a general secretary. F. J. Finch worked as an educational director. The journalist did not specify which man delivered the line. Therefore, the exact originator remains a mystery.
Another quote from that day reinforces the theme. The speaker urged the audience to “stop preaching religion and live it.” This emphasis on practical application over verbal theory became a hallmark of the saying. It suggests that deeds matter more than creeds.
Evolution Through Religious Discourse
The phrase soon evolved. It traveled from Nebraska to other pulpits. In 1932, a newspaper in Indiana recorded a slight variation. A Methodist minister attributed the quote to a man named Glenn Franc. This version swapped “act” for “live.” It read, “It is easier to live yourself into right thinking than it is to think yourself into right living.”
This change is significant. “Living” implies a continuous state of being. “Acting” might sound temporary. However, the core message remained identical. Behavior shapes belief.
Consequently, speakers adapted the words to fit their style. They molded the wisdom to their specific audiences. This flexibility helped the idea survive. It was not a rigid doctrine. Instead, it was a fluid observation about human nature. It resonated because people saw the truth of it in their daily lives.
E. Stanley Jones Popularizes the Concept
One man championed this idea more than anyone else. E. Stanley Jones was a prolific author and missionary. He possessed a massive global platform in the mid-20th century. Jones recognized the profound utility of this maxim. He wove it into his theological framework.
Jones first used the phrase in his 1936 book, Victorious Living. He wrote, “It is easier to live yourself into right thinking than to think yourself into right living.” He connected this to moral blindness. He argued that unethical behavior clouds our judgment. Therefore, we must live rightly to see clearly.
Later, Jones tweaked the phrasing. In 1937, he published The Choice Before Us. Here, he used the phrase “act your way into.” This version sounds more dynamic. It suggests a journey. You are moving toward a new state of mind.
By 1940, Jones returned to the original Nebraska phrasing. He used “act yourself into” in his book Is the Kingdom of God Realism?. His consistent use of the phrase cemented it in the public consciousness. Readers associated the wisdom with him. He validated the idea that spiritual understanding follows obedience, not the other way around.
The Shift to Psychology and Therapy
Eventually, the saying crossed a professional border. It moved from the church to the clinic. Orval Hobart Mowrer, a prominent psychologist, discovered the phrase in 1959. He saw its potential for treating mental health issues. However, he made a crucial adjustment.
Mowrer changed “thinking” to “feeling.” He wrote, “It is easier to act your way into a new way of feeling than to feel your way into a new way of acting.” This shift targeted the realm of emotion.
Therapists often struggle with clients who wait to “feel better.” These clients delay action until their mood improves. Mowrer challenged this paradigm. He believed that mood follows action.
For instance, a depressed patient might wait for energy to return before getting out of bed. Mowrer would argue that getting out of bed generates the energy. The action must come first.
In 1961, Mowrer credited E. Stanley Jones for the original thought. He acknowledged his source. Yet, Mowrer’s adaptation proved incredibly sticky. It addressed the emotional turbulence of the modern age. It offered a tool for emotional regulation through behavioral control.
Entering the Mainstream Self-Help Era
The phrase continued its journey into secular culture. By the 1970s, it appeared in motivational literature. Zig Ziglar, the famous sales trainer, used a version of it. In 1977, he attributed the idea to a high school principal named Bruce Norman.
Ziglar’s version focused on feelings. He said, “You can’t ‘feel’ your way into a new way of acting, but you can ‘act’ your way into a new way of feeling.” This fit perfectly with sales training. Salespeople often face rejection. They cannot wait to feel confident. They must act confident to become confident.
Later, other authors adopted the maxim. John C. Maxwell included it in his leadership books. He condensed it for impact. He noted that we can “act your way into feeling” faster than we can “feel your way into action.”
Millard Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, also used the phrase. He applied it to social change. You build a house to change a community. You do not just think about housing. The physical act of building transforms the builders and the residents.
Why This Maxim Remains Relevant Today
We live in an age of distraction. We consume endless information. We often mistake consuming content for taking action. We read about fitness instead of running. We watch videos about painting instead of picking up a brush.
Therefore, this quote is more relevant than ever. It cuts through the noise. It reminds us that consumption is not creation. Thinking is not doing.
Furthermore, modern neuroscience supports this old wisdom. Neuroplasticity shows that repeated behaviors rewire the brain. When you repeat an action, you strengthen neural pathways. You literally build a new way of thinking through repetition.
Thus, if you want to become a kinder person, perform kind acts. Do not wait to feel benevolent. If you want to be brave, do the scary thing. Courage is the result of the action, not the prerequisite.
Conclusion
The phrase has traveled a long path. It started in a Nebraska convention hall. It moved through the writings of missionaries. It entered the offices of psychologists. Finally, it landed in best-selling business books.
However, its origin matters less than its utility. The core truth remains unshakable. We are the architects of our own mindsets. We build these mindsets with the bricks of our actions.
So, stop waiting for the perfect thought. Stop waiting for the right feeling. Move your feet. Do the work. You will find that your mind follows where your body leads. Indeed, it is truly easier to act your way into a new way of thinking.