The Cabrera Lab Podcast #103: Think It Through: When You Know What to Do—but Don’t Do It
Jan 21, 2026
This discussion dives into the common struggle of knowing what to do but failing to take action. The hosts explore how underlying mental models can lead to contradictory behaviors, using relatable examples like smoking and exercising. They illustrate how language and actions reveal hidden motivations and how reframing mental models can change outcomes. With practical strategies, including metacognition and deliberate practice, they emphasize that awareness paired with action can drive effective behavior change.
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Knowledge Is An Organized Mental Model
- Knowing something equals a mental model, and that mental model (information organized) drives behavior.
- Behavior reveals parts of your mental model you often can't see directly.
Conflicting Rules Live In The Same Mind
- Mental models can contain both reasons to do X and reasons not to do X simultaneously.
- If you only notice the 'should not' side, you miss drivers that keep the behavior going.
Unpack And Reorganize Your Mental Model
- Observe your behavior, language, feelings, and decisions to find clues about hidden mental models.
- Unpack that 'suitcase' of beliefs, reorganize conflicting parts, then practice the new model.