3 Secrets to help you take action now
Some people are just better at taking action than others. At least, that’s how it can often seem when you want to take action but can’t figure out how you should go about it. You can transform yourself from a thinker to a doer using the following three secrets.
1. Stop Waiting For The Perfect Time
The most obvious difference between a thinker and someone who is a doer is that doers don’t worry about waiting for the perfect time. This is because perfection is a myth. There is no such thing as the perfect time. You will always have a full schedule; you will always have other things to do. It is time to accept that there is no time like the present for whatever you wish to accomplish. So stop waiting, and start doing instead.
2. Write Your Plan Down
Many people don’t take action now because they aren’t sure where to start. If your plan is quite large, like a career change, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start. What helps with this is to sit down and make an outline of your plan or goal. Break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Then, start with the first manageable piece that you can do. For the career example listed above, the first step would be to update your resume to apply for new jobs. Seems much more approachable than just thinking you want a new career, right?
3. Overcome Your Fear
Are you afraid to take action now because you don’t think you will be successful? Or maybe you are afraid that you will make mistakes along the way? You aren’t alone. Most people who aren’t doers don’t take action because they are afraid of what could happen. Either way, it’s time to overcome these fears so that you can take action now. And the best way to do this is by recognizing that you are human and that making mistakes is part of life. Don’t worry about thinking you may fail; this is okay too. Remember that all successful people have had failures too. This doesn’t mean they didn’t eventually achieve their dreams! Learn more about the fear of failure and how to overcome it in this article, 11 Ways to Overcome Fear. Author Erica Juras wrote a blog Face Your Dreams . She talks about fear, facing it and how she was able to write a trilogy.
Taking action now can seem like a tall order, but when you have these three secrets up your sleeve, you may find that taking action is easier than you originally thought. So if you have big plans for your life, don’t sit around waiting for them to happen on their own. Take action today and make your dream a reality.
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Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
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Great post, Julie! You have pinpointed the most critical three that will stop all of us from making change. We must step back, give ourselves a reality check, and understand that to make a change, we must first see what isn’t working for us.
I like your comment. It is hard to step back and look at our own hard work and accept that it is not working. I did that in November and took down my online course and my very wise webmaster suggested changing it into downloads. In this case I need to take action to stop something and then to start something. Which is harder stopping or starting?
These are great tips, but I don’t agree with your career example. You shouldn’t update your resume until you’ve identified your new career goal; that way you can tailor your resume to the job you want. (Yes, sometimes I miss working in employment services!)
I would agree with your thought not to update until you have a new career. It feels safer. If you update before you have a career someone might be able to help you and it might not take as long as if you find the career without any help. What do think?
I love your call to action and encouragement to face fear, let go of perfection, and make a plan. Some of what you wrote about (the perfection piece) also aligns with what I wrote about this week.
Also, I have a new reminder on my desk that says, “Overcome the fear of doing it wrong.” Although I’m generally not a fearful person, there are times when fear can be a barrier. The sign is my reminder to check in with myself if fear arises.
I love your sign. I felt that way when I started and then I taught myself to do it and learn from what was wrong or that I could have done better. If i had never taken the step I wouldn’t have learned anything.
These are really essential points. I know that perfectionist procrastination can be my enemy, and too often I put of doing something because the fear of not achieving the image in my head looms too large. (I often say that I’m not afraid of fear, but mediocrity.) You’re right — breaking things down into the tiniest composite steps takes the weight off the finished project and lets you focus on just what you can do right now, and that’s so freeing!
I have had to break things into many steps. I figure out which steps I can do and which ones I need help with. By doing this I can start instead of focusing on the things I don’t know how to do and taking no action. Thank you for your statement about fearing mediocrity. I will ponder that thought.
I think I have fear when making a mistake will cost me a lot of money. I just don’t want to waste money! The good news is, at least when it comes to organizing, you can make good progress without spending a dime.
I do believe that starting not only alleviates stress, but it can build confidence as you go along. Starting also helps us see what the possible next steps might be. It’s easier to steer when you are moving, right?
I love that comment. “It’s easier to steer when your are moving, right?” You are so right. Thank you for sharing it with me. I love taking the concrete and applying it in a more abstract way.