Swimming is something you do. "A swimmer" is someone you are. A swimmer swims. If you can't already swim, you learn how to. But when you can swim, you aren't ne

Swimming is something you do. "A swimmer" is someone you are. A swimmer swims. If you can't already swim, you learn how to. But when you can swim, you aren't necessarily a swimmer yet. I don't think it's about some particular skill, but more about an identity. Taking on a new identity might involve learning some new skills, but those are just the prerequisites to even successfully "faking it". Put another way, it's more about establishing patterns of behavior. You start off making decisions consciously, and maybe even with difficulty, like "I'm going to get up at 6am, warm up, and swim 10 laps". And "I'm switching my diet to complement my new exercise routine". They'll start out feeling novel, like they're someone else's actions. Then eventually, they'll be your norm. They'll still take effort, but of course you'll make the effort, because "this is just what I do".