Become the person necessary to live the life you want

 How we see ourselves can influence the choices we make and the actions that feel relevant to us. Research on identity suggests that when a behavior feels connected to who we are—or who we are becoming—we may be more likely to see that behavior as meaningful and worth pursuing. 

 Self-efficacy is our belief in our ability to successfully perform a specific behavior. That belief can grow through experience, watching others, encouragement, and how we interpret our own physical and emotional responses—helping something that once felt out of reach begin to feel possible. 

 Intention alone doesn't always lead to action. Research on behavior change shows that planning, repetition, and creating opportunities to act can help close the gap between what we intend to do and what we actually do. 

 Doing something gives us information that thinking about doing it cannot. Successful experiences can strengthen our belief in what we're capable of, giving us new evidence to carry into the next challenge. 

 We also learn by watching other people. Seeing someone else attempt, practice, and perform a behavior can help us understand what the behavior looks like and can influence what we believe may be possible for us, particularly when we can relate to the person we're observing. 

 Sport gives us a powerful environment to practice choice, competence, connection, and persistence. Research on women's sport and physical activity suggests that motivation, feelings of competence, autonomy, relatedness, and identity can all play meaningful roles in participation and continued engagement.