Do you talk a good game? How to get into action!
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Are you someone who talks a good game, but the reality is often that there’s more talk than action?
If so, you are not alone. I see accomplished people do this all the time.
They talk about starting a new, consistent exercise program, or networking more (for business development or to start a job search), or scheduling a long overdue medical appointment, or making time for a deep dive into a new interest, or meditating regularly, or researching something new.
Sometimes they’ve looked into the best places to network, but never registered to attend an event.
Many have thought long and hard about how and when and for how long to meditate, and maybe even asked around and downloaded a good app, but never actually started a meditation practice.
Some have purchased all the supplies needed for a new project, but have never used them.
The sad repercussions of never starting, or stalling out
When we declare that we want to do something — saying it only to ourselves, or telling others — and then do not follow through, a downward cycle can take root.
We feel frustrated and disappointed in ourselves. If we have told other people, we are likely to feel embarrassed, and even ashamed.
The voice of the self-critic inevitably starts to hammer away.
We berate ourselves, we lose confidence, we can lose hope. We compare ourselves to others. We can not only feel stuck, we can get demoralized.
As this kind of negative thinking continues, it becomes increasingly hard to get started, or to resume an early effort.
Action is the answer.
You can create the ideal conditions to ease your way.
I’m glad to tell you that there is a three-part formula to pull out of feeling stuck and frustrated.
Here is how to lay a solid foundation for taking action:
Begin with willingness
Change, growth, or anything you really want can only occur if you are willing to embrace the unknown and engage in the effort.
If it’s important enough to you to step out of your comfort zone, you have the first step in place.
Add belief
You need to believe that you matter, and that you deserve the thing you want, and that you can be a creator of what is important to you.
We become what we believe.
Can you believe in yourself, and believe that it’s possible to take a small step forward — even when it feels challenging?
Now it's time to commit
With willingness and belief in place, commitment is the final ingredient that is needed to move forward from concept (thinking about it, wishing for it, talking about it) to taking consistent action that will bring results.
Three keys to implementing an action plan
The idea of taking action, when you’ve struggled, can feel intimidating. We tend to feel that big bold action is what’s needed, and is all that counts.
If you’ve been reading my blog posts for a while, you will not be surprised to read points one and two. Add the third step and you’ll be on your way to sustained action.
1. Imperfect action is the perfect way to begin
The feeling that you need to do things perfectly, right from the start, can keep you from starting at all. We put so much pressure on ourselves!
The key is to embrace imperfect action.
When you set out to write a crummy first draft, or imperfectly test the waters in any other way, you give yourself permission to do that thing badly. With that expectation, it’s so much easier to start.
When you start anything, you are in motion. You can then gain momentum with greater ease.
2. Small steps really work
People who have run marathons (and I am not among them!), have told me how they started by deciding to go for it, and running very short distances to start. They slowly built their endurance. I have one friend who began that way and went on to complete an Iron Man triathlon — and she had never run in her youth!
Small steps are powerful. There’s no need to start big, which can lead to frustration and can make that thing you want to do feel unattainable.
If, for example, you want to start a meditation practice, you might start by planning to sit quietly for 5 minutes twice a week. Experiment. What’s the best the time of day for you? You might try both silent and guided meditation. Find a setting that works best for you. You can gradually increase the number of minutes and/or number of times per week from there.
3. Stick with it until you hit your stride
A client of mine reminded me of this point in a coaching session this morning. She had taught yoga, and she told her students they needed to take 10 classes before they would know if yoga was for them or not.
When you experience a yoga class on different days, your body is in a different state each time you get on the mat. If you take just one class and decide it’s not for you, you miss the experience of your body opening to this new practice over time.
As a painter, I had a similar experience. It was in committing to enrolling in a painting class for a full semester that I was able to slowly find my way and realize that I wanted painting to be an ongoing part of my life.
Is this the day you will move from talk to action?
If you have been struggling to get something underway, try the steps outlined above. You may want to ask someone to be an accountability partner for you — to work on the same initiative in tandem, or simply be there for you to check in with, so you can more easily get started and stay on track.
And if you want focused support — and accountability — to start and sustain your efforts to bring important change into your life, let’s make a date for a complimentary Live Big Breakthrough Call. I’ll be happy to help you gain insights and new perspectives, to help you see how you can move forward in your life in exciting ways. And, if we both think the fit is right, I can share the ways we might work together.
Stay safe and well, and keep creating.
