Do we practice what we preach?

Do we really practice what we preach?

Practicing what we preach is equivalent to doing what we say, doing what we think of doing, or doing what we intend to do. Based on personal experiences, we frequently fail at it for two reasons: we want to look good to others and to ourselves. We want to look good to others because we desperately want to be liked by everyone. We want to look good to ourselves because we crave the feeling that we are great. The focus must be on whether our actions reflect our words and thoughts that we approve to convert into their corresponding choices, not just how we present ourselves.

I once worked with a coach, and one of the main reasons I stopped working with him was that he did not practice what he preached. He spoke about valuable ways of operating in this reality, yet he was incapable of putting them into action. Can we really take someone seriously who talks about health when, based on facts, we can see that he is unhealthy? The most shocking example of not practicing what we preach was a social media influencer who claimed to be a relationship expert yet admitted without shame that he was single. And yet, so many of us follow those who do not practice what they preach. Why is that? One reason we interact with those who do not practice what they preach is that we ourselves fail to practice what we preach.

Do I practice what I preach? No, not as much as I am supposed to.

This is a personal story about how I believed I practiced what I preached in a big way—however, that turned out to be untrue. I write about collaboration and kindness, yet I use Amazon. Beyond not practicing what we preach, this is an example of internal misalignment: we stand for something, yet contradict it with our actions. What now? I deleted my Amazon profile, and doing so opened the door to many benefits—besides being one step closer to being a good example in terms of practicing what I preach.

Amazon is only interested in one thing: making a profit, and with that intention, it inevitably steps on other businesses and people. What did I realize once I stopped using Amazon? Using Amazon turns one into a victim of buying things simply because it’s so easy—yet, most of what we buy isn’t even something we truly need. Now, I simply go to physical stores or shop through other online retailers, and doing so feels good, of course, because these actions align with what I preach and stand for.

Do you trick yourself into believing you practice what you preach?

If so, it’s likely because you want to see yourself as a great and kind person—without truly examining whether your actions align with your thoughts or words. Facing that reality requires significant effort, courage, humility, and the ability to take full responsibility. I know how that feels because I strive to assess whether I practice what I preach on a regular basis. We must focus on the integrity of our actions, rather than just how we appear to others.

Why does it matter to practice what we preach?

The world needs good examples, and practicing what we preach is equivalent to being one. Actions matter more than words—and striving to practice what we preach demonstrates true kindness and proves that we are men who can be trusted.