Remember when you were a teenager and your parents told you to do something that you already knew you should be doing? We were irritated, so we’d reply in some smart-aleck way. Something like - Yeah, no kidding … followed by muttering some phrase including the name Sherlock or Einstein under our breath.

Then of course we wouldn’t do the thing right away, or ever, out of spite, even if we were just about to do it before their annoying reminder, adopting a you’re not the boss of me bad attitude. Of course eventually we’d relent and get the thing done, because they were in fact the boss of us … the provider of our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Anyway, last week I had explored the topic of how to live our best life based upon the wisdom of the ages. I wasn’t surprised by any of the advice provided, I doubt you were either. Rather, I thought, yeah, no kidding, I already know all of this.

But what I did realize is that knowing and doing are two very different things. I guess I already knew this too. But my question is, why … why do we not do so many of the things that we already know would be good for us? Further, why do we do things that we know are not good for us? Can we never escape our teenage arrogance? What is wrong with us?! Or is it just me?

But again, no surprise here … we humans have been this way since the beginning of forbidden fruit time. Still, I want to understand why. More importantly, I want to know what we can do about it. That is, how can we get better at actually applying the wisdom of the ages to help us live our best life?

Yeah, I know, we’re all fallen humans, prone to sin. But we also know we can do better, and we do try. But still we often fall short of our expectations of ourselves. It’s frustrating! I want to be better and do better. Don’t we all?

So I thought about all my reasons, excuses really, for why I don’t do what I should, and why I do do what I don’t want … ha, do-do, that made me laugh so I left it in. Then I remembered that this situation is so common that it is even addressed in the Bible:

Since I had asked our AI friend about how to live our best life, I thought it would be interesting to see what it had to say about our lack of follow-through as well. Here is its response:

The challenge of consistently putting these teachings into practice is something most of us struggle with. Here are some possible reasons why:

Human Nature and Habit - Our tendencies toward comfort and familiarity often pull us away from what’s truly meaningful. Many of us get caught in the habits of immediate gratification, material pursuits, or emotional reactions. These behaviors may feel satisfying in the moment, but they don’t lead to lasting fulfillment or peace.

Distractions and Stress - Life is busy and demanding. Between work, family and social obligations, and the constant flood of information, it’s easy to lose focus on deeper values and practices. Distractions can pull us away from consciously making informed choices and acting intentionally.

Fear and Resistance to Change - The fear of the unknown, of failure, and of what others might think can create resistance. Change often involves stepping out of our comfort zones—whether it’s letting go of old habits or shifting our mindset—and that can be intimidating, even if we know it's in our best interests.

Attachment to Ego and Identity - The ego tends to resist practices that challenge its sense of identity. We may cling to our beliefs, preferences, and assumptions because they provide us with a sense of stability and certainty. Even though we may understand intellectually that letting go would be liberating, the ego often creates internal resistance.

Culture of Instant Gratification – We live in a fast-paced, results-oriented world where quick fixes and immediate rewards are highly valued. This culture makes it harder to embrace the long-term process of personal growth, which often requires patience, sustained effort, and delayed gratification.

Yep, that about captures it for me. My personal summary is that it is harder to follow the wisdom of the ages than it is not to. It is easier to go along with what the majority are doing, to drift through life on the path of least resistance.

Plus, we don’t like being told what to do. We would rather figure it out for ourselves, usually the hard way. We want to do it our way as the classic song goes. Basically our foolish pride and preference for comfort are holding us back from being and doing our best.

So what can we do to break through our resistance and get ourselves on the path to doing what we know we should? Again I asked Chat since we were already deep into this conversation. Here is what it had to say:

Knowing the right thing and doing the right thing are often two very different things. Here’s some advice to help bridge that gap and start living more consistently with the wisdom we know:

Start Small and Be Consistent - Big life changes are hard, but small habits are manageable. Choose one piece of advice and focus on it until it becomes a habit, then move on to the next.

Create Reminders and Rituals - Your environment shapes your behavior. Set visual or audio reminders (calendar alerts, notes on mirrors, a bracelet you wear). Build in daily rituals—like journaling, prayer, quiet reflection, or reviewing your values each morning. The more often you remind yourself of what matters, the more naturally you’ll live it.

Surround Yourself with Support - You become like the people you spend time with. Find friends, mentors, or communities that value the same kind of life you want to live. Share your goals with them, and ask for encouragement (or gentle accountability). Reading great books or listening to wise voices (like podcasts or sermons) can also be powerful.

Make Space for Reflection - Without reflection, we forget what we’re aiming for. Ask yourself at the end of the day: Did I live according to my values today? Where did I struggle? Where did I succeed? Don’t beat yourself up. Be curious, not critical. Every day is a chance to try again.

Understand Your Triggers - Notice what throws you off course. Is it stress? Exhaustion? Certain people or places? Once you know your patterns, you can plan ahead: take deep breaths, step away, ask for help, or say no.

Give Yourself Grace - No one lives perfectly—not even the wisest among us. Failure is part of the process. It’s not a sign to quit—it’s a sign you’re human. Growth is not about perfection; it’s about direction. Keep aiming toward the life you believe in.

Return to Your “Why” - The stronger your reason, the stronger your follow-through. Why do you want to live with purpose, kindness, courage, and love? Write down your “why” and revisit it often. Let it inspire you when life gets tough.

My why is a why not - Why wouldn’t I want to live the best life possible? Take a moment to imagine what our lives will be like if we choose to adopt the best life advice. Then imagine what life will be like if we continue on our current path. The choice is clear, which makes moving from knowing to doing just a little bit easier.

In summary: We know what to do, we know why we resist doing it, and we know what to do in order to get over our resistance. Now all we have to do is act accordingly.

And it’s helpful to remember that this life is simply a journey to the next … one moment at a time, over and over again until the end. As Yogi Berra aptly points out, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” And as we also know, the end for us here is just a new beginning. Why not make the best of our earthly time now in the meantime?

Godspeed, Scott

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