Who Told You That? How Internal Dialogue Shapes Your Health Journey

Have you ever stopped to notice the way you talk to yourself?

Most of us are living life on autopilot—rushing through our days, bouncing between responsibilities, and never pausing to hear the voice that quietly narrates our experience. But here’s the truth: that voice, your internal dialogue, is shaping your actions, your confidence, and your results more than anything else.

And if you’re stuck in your health journey, it’s time to start paying attention.

In this post, we’re going to explore how limiting beliefs form, how they silently sabotage your progress, and how you can begin to rewrite them using two powerful questions from identity expert Jamie Winship:

“Who told you that?”
“Where did you learn that?”

Waking Up from Autopilot

The very first step to change isn’t finding the perfect diet or the best workout program. It’s becoming aware.

Most of the people I coach have been stuck for years—not because they don’t know what to do, but because they’re operating from subconscious beliefs that tell them they can’t do it. These beliefs are subtle, familiar, and often rooted in fear.

Statements like:

• “I always fall off track.”
  
  
• “I don’t have time for this.”
  
  
• “I’m just not disciplined.”
  
  
• “This is just my body type.”
  
  

They feel like facts. But they’re not. They’re internal narratives—and they can be challenged.

Your Identity Drives Your Behavior

Jamie Winship says, “You will always live out what you believe to be true about yourself.” That means your habits don’t start with motivation—they start with identity.

If you believe you’re someone who always quits, you’ll keep quitting. If you believe you’re addicted, you’ll act like it. If you believe you’re lazy, undisciplined, or broken, those beliefs will drive your behavior—even if you’re trying hard to change.

You can’t consistently act in a way that contradicts your identity.
So if you want to change your behavior, you have to start with what you believe about yourself.

Where Did That Belief Come From?

The next step is asking a powerful question:
Where did I learn this belief?

Often, limiting beliefs come from:

• Childhood experiences
  
  
• Something a teacher, parent, or coach said
  
  
• Years of failed diets and broken promises to ourselves
  
  
• A culture that teaches perfection over progress
  
  

When we don’t question these beliefs, they become embedded. They feel like truth, but they’re actually just rehearsed thoughts we’ve never examined.

Disrupt the Pattern: Ask Better Questions

Here’s where Jamie Winship’s work gets practical. The next time a negative or limiting thought comes up, pause and ask:

• Who told me that?
  
  
• Where did I learn that?
  
  
• Is that actually true?
  
  
• What’s the truth that replaces this lie?
  
  

For example:

• “I always mess up.”
  → Who told you that?
  → What would truth say?
  → “I’m someone who gets back up.”
  
  
• “I don’t have time for my health.”
  → Where did you learn that?
  → “I can choose to prioritize what matters.”
  
  

These questions break the loop. They help you stop rehearsing failure and start telling the truth.

Health Goals Start with Identity, Not Hustle

Instead of chasing the next quick fix or restriction plan, what if you focused on becoming the kind of person who cares for your body with consistency, grace, and honesty?

Here’s the shift:

From: “I want to lose weight.”
To: “I want to become someone who treats her body with care and respect.”

This reframing isn’t soft. It’s strong.
Because it aligns your actions with your identity—and that’s where real transformation begins.

A Simple Practice for Rewriting the Script

Here’s a quick identity-alignment practice you can try this week:

1. Morning Check-In:

• Ask: What is true about me today?
  (Example: “I am strong. I am learning. I am becoming.”)
  
  

2. Mid-Day Pause:

• When a negative thought hits, ask:
  “Who told me that?”
  “What would truth say instead?”
  
  

3. Evening Reflection:

• Where did I act in alignment with truth today?
  
  
• Where did I slip into fear or lies?
  
  

You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be awake.

You’re Not Broken—You’re Becoming

Here’s what I want you to know:
You’re not stuck because you’re lazy, weak, or flawed.
You’re stuck because you’re still operating from beliefs that were never true in the first place.

You can change your story. You can rewrite your identity.
And when you do, your habits will start to shift in ways that actually last.

Want Help Doing This Work?

This kind of identity work is exactly what we dive into inside Lifestyle School for Weight-Loss. We focus on more than food and fasting—we get to the root of what’s been holding you back, and we build sustainable habits from a place of truth.

If you're ready to stop starting over and finally live like the healthiest version of yourself, I’d love to walk alongside you.

And be sure to listen to the full episode on the podcast for the deep dive:
Listen to Episode 20: Who Told You That? 
Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

With you in it,

Hope