The best way to achieve transformation is to “be” the person you most desire to become. Embody the new identity…fully. That’s when your mindset and habits align with your identity. You change. Also, people sense who you are from your posture, actions, speech, and energy.
I have written and spoken about embodying an identity quite often. However, I’ve never had a perfect example to share…until recently.
Monks Who Embody Peace
I’ve been paying close attention to the Walk for Peace. As I write this, 19 Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, are walking 2,300 miles to Washington, D.C. The purpose of the walk is to spread the message of peace, mindfulness, and compassion across America—one step at a time. Led by Bhikkhu Pannakara and accompanied by a dog named Aloka, the group began walking in October 2025 and is expected to finish in February 2026.
These venerable monks embody peace and tranquility. They state clearly that they must feel peaceful themselves to spread peace from the inside out. And every day they choose to “make this my peaceful day.”
And they remain peaceful despite difficulties. For instance, while they were walking, a car accident broke one of the venerable monk’s legs. The leg had to be amputated, but the monk says he is at peace with the incident…even with the driver who caused the accident.
Resonating with Americans
This is not the venerable monks’ first walk. Previously, they went on a 112-day peace pilgrimage in India.
Here in the U.S., they initially drew little attention. Then, they began attracting larger and larger crowds and more social media attention. Although most news stations have not mentioned them, Anderson Cooper created a CNN segment about them. USA Today published an article, and so did The Guardian recently. A few local stations have covered the walk, but, in general, social media has offered the most coverage.
Their journey is primarily being detailed on social media, specifically on their Facebook page.
The Peaceful Dog
Even the venerable monks’ dog, Aloka, radiates peace and has become a social media darling. They met Aloka while walking in India. He was a stray that began walking with them, showing incredible loyalty and remaining with them even after being hit by a car.
The monks adopted him and brought him to the United States. Now, he is walking with them again—except for a period after he had surgery for a back leg issue. (At the time I am writing this, he is still in recovery.)
Aloka always seems centered, happy, and peaceful…even after his surgery.
Aloka now has a Facebook page.
Being Your Highest Self
I understand why they are called “venerable monks.” Their character deserves respect.
After all, how many of us embody who we truly want to be…and know we can be? How many of us show up somewhere and those around us feel who we are at our core…they “get” our truest nature or character? How many of us are being our highest, best self—or peace, love, compassion?
Not many…even if we strive for that type of “beingness.”
Yet, the venerable monks have achieved that state. They are peace. They don’t just demonstrate peace, they radiate it. Even watching them in a video can help you feel their peace and become more peaceful. You can feel their peace energetically.
The Impact of Embodiment
I can only imagine what it is like to be in the venerable monks’ presence. Simply watching videos of them gives me a sense of peace and a respite from the negative news and social media streams.
As they travel from town to town, city to city, state to state, people walk with them, offer them food, water, and flowers, and gather to hear them speak. The crowds grow daily, and I’m not surprised.
Americans have been starved of peace. They seek peace at a deep, core level.
We have so much war, fighting, division, and anger in the world right now—and in our country. We need peace.
The monks demonstrate peace with each step. Those who encounter them and who have been feeling the anxiety, distress, and upset of the state of our country and world weep in their presence. I assume they are overcome by the relief of experiencing peace…feeling it…realizing they can choose to feel peaceful.
Indeed, you can choose to feel and embody peace every day…every moment.
The monks teach: affirm each morning that this will be your peaceful day. If it is not, they say, that is about you and the internal state you choose.
You can choose differently…choose again…choose peace.
Choose to be peace…to embody it.
How to Embody Desired Change
If you want to “be” someone different—you want to change in some desirable way, you can accomplish that. You can demonstrate, radiate, and vibrate as the person you want to be—even your highest, best self. You can choose a characteristic—like peace—and be that.
To accomplish such a goal, first, get clear about who you want to be. What new identity do you want to demonstrate? What characteristics do you want to embody?
Second, imagine someone “being” the person you want to be or demonstrating a characteristic, like love, peace, or compassion. What would make you “get” them? How would they speak, behave, or interact with others?
Finally, decide to be such a person. Choose that identity. Commit to being a person with those characteristics. Daily demonstrate that way of being—exhibit the characteristics you identified.
In each moment, ask yourself, how would someone who is peaceful, present, health-conscious, aware, loving, or whomever you want to be, behave, speak, feel, or respond?
Do that.
Be that.
The Repeated Choice of Embodiment
I can tell you from my personal experience that embodying the person you most want to be requires repeatedly choosing to be that person.
Yes, when you choose a new identity, your habits and mindsets align immediately. However, you may find that there are days or situations that cause you to revert to who you were before. You react habitually.
In such situations, you have to choose to be that person again.
The venerable monks decide every day to embody peace. They pray for this, and intentionally and consciously choose and demonstrate peace and compassion in every moment.
The monks’ walk is rooted in the Buddhist tradition of mindfulness and nonviolence, serving as a “prayer in motion.” But you can make being whoever you want to be your personal prayer in motion.
How to Embody a Characteristic or Identity
Use the monks as role models as you learn to embody a characteristic or identity.
- Take Mindful Action—Fill every action with intention. Their intention is to cultivate patience, loving kindness, and awareness.
- Make Conscious Choices—Consciously choose who you want to be, and let that choice awaken that part of yourself that already exists within. Bhikkhu Pannakara said: “We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us.” The monks describe their message as a simple yet profound choice: “Choose peace, practice kindness, and let compassion guide our actions.”
- Persevere No Matter What—No matter the situation in which you find yourself, embody the person you have chosen to be. Remember that the venerable monks continued their journey despite significant physical hardship, including an accident. Their response to the accident was a stronger commitment to persevere without anger, reinforcing their message of peace amid suffering.
- Embody Your Message—Whomever you choose to be, your actions tell a story or offer a message to those you encounter. Rather than just talking about peace, the venerable monks embody it through their actions, which include walking in silence, eating one simple meal a day, and relying on the generosity of the communities they pass through.
Continuous Embodiment
The venerable monks’ Walk for Peace is a continuous, voluntary act of being peace and choosing peace as a lifestyle. Their embodiment and expression of peace ripple outward, reminding people of what is possible.
Peace is possible. As each person chooses peace, the world becomes more peaceful. That’s a powerful message to humanity.
What continuous, voluntary act of embodiment will you take on? Tell me in a comment below. And please share this post with those who may benefit from reading it.
Image courtesy Walk For Peace.
