Aligning Words and Actions

Aligning Words and Actions

As I walked today, I found myself reflecting on alignment—how things are meant to fit into the space created for them. It’s not enough to simply have the right pieces; they must also connect properly. A power cord without the right adapter won’t work, even if both parts are present. They must align to function.

I thought back to a moment with my daughter Bella when I was teaching her about parking. I explained that when you park, you need to center yourself between the lines. If you don’t, you risk another car parking too close, doors hitting each other, or not having space to get out. She was young, but she was watching closely. The funny part was that, moments later, she called me out—I wasn’t parked straight.

That moment stayed with me. I was teaching Bella about alignment, but I wasn’t modeling it. My words said one thing, but my actions revealed something different. And when those don’t line up, it creates confusion.

This isn’t just about parking. It’s about leadership—whether as a parent, teacher, coach, or manager. The people we lead, especially children, don’t just listen to our words; they watch our actions. If we preach excellence but live with shortcuts, our words lose meaning. If we say “line up straight,” but our own lives are crooked, we teach contradiction instead of clarity.

As I reflect, I see the importance of aligning words and actions. Children, with their little eyes and ears, are learning every day from what we show them. So I remind myself: teaching is not just what I say—it’s what I do. Alignment means centering myself in truth, in consistency, and in modeling the example I hope to see in those who follow.