How to ‘Model Your Philosophy’

Unique Perspectives: How to ‘Model Your Philosophy’

By Kim Stevens

Have you ever heard the phrase, “model your philosophy”?

It’s one of my absolute favorites. 

There are other variations of this sentiment, of course – “Actions speak louder than words” and “lead by example” are two popular expressions that come to mind. 

But for me, it’s about modeling your philosophy, and recognizing that what you do is the real blueprint others will follow.

Take kids, for instance. With my own kids, I realize I may have been a little hypocritical in what I was saying over the years. “Don’t have dessert before dinner,” I’d tell them, and then 5 o’clock rolls around and I’d be sitting at the dining room table with a spoonful of chocolate ice cream. 

The purpose behind my words was well-intentioned; I wanted them to avoid my mistakes, but the disconnect between what I said and what I did formed a gap too wide to ignore. And my kids did not ignore it. Most kids are that way. They watch what you do far more often than they listen to what you say. 

It was a total wake-up call for me, and really caused me to talk less and watch the integrity behind my actions, instilling a deliberateness to my days that was helpful all around. If I wanted to raise kids who were kind, thoughtful and upright citizens of the world, I’d have to be that way, too. 

So, instead of telling people what to do, I did it. And this doesn’t just apply to kids. These lessons translate to the workplace, the yoga studio, the dining room, and my own philosophy for life. I believe in trusting the process. I know everything is always going to workout for me, everything is a miracle. These are important beliefs and philosophies that I need to not just talk about but really model and practice in my life. 

“Model your philosophy” is a way of living that takes into account the big difference between telling somebody what to do, and actually going out and doing it.