When we’re trying to live more healthfully, the problem usually isn’t a lack of knowledge — most of us have a good idea of what choices will move us in the right direction. It’s making those choices that can be so tough.

Moreover, Cleveland Clinic Wellness notes that having the right knowledge can actually make things harder, because we’re apt to beat ourselves up for not abiding by it. But:

a new study points to a novel way to make changes if you’re feeling stuck. Simply being told what to do or being reminded of long-term health consequences can conjure up emotional defenses and even feelings of low self-worth, which can be discouraging rather than motivating. One way to feel more encouraged to practice healthy habits is to step back, so to speak, and focus on something bigger than yourself. Researchers followed more than 200 adults who were sedentary and overweight and had some of them reflect on their “self-transcendent” values — that is, values that were bigger than themselves, such as love for their families or spirituality.

Members of a control group were told to focus on their least important values instead. The study participants were tracked for a month, and at the end, those who had focused on the values that mattered most to them had been much more physically active than the others. It sounds simplistic, but thinking about what you want your life to mean, rather than getting anxious about what you should be doing, puts you into a mind-set where it’s easier to achieve more.