…and ACTION!
A movie is composed of many small scenes. Life is the same. It’s the small events that make up the big picture, and lead to your final version of your own movie.
A life without action is just a dream, and therefore, action is needed to overcome the feeling of being stuck in life.
Most problems in life are attributable to two reasons:
1. We act without thinking, or
2. We think without acting.
I understand that when we feel lost and lack a clear vision of where we want to take our lives, it’s not easy to take action. Uncertainty and fear gets in the way, blocking our flow and visibility of our reason for being.
But the worst thing that you can do is do nothing. One step of action will either get you closer to your final destination or it will move you away. Either way, the only way to know is by taking that step. Once you have taken it, you will get some kind of feedback that will let you know if it was a step in the right direction or not. Making mistakes and learning means that you are alive!
Gandhi used to say, “you may never know what results come from your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no result”. Life is about learning and expanding and the only condition necessary to do so is to act.
There is one thing that defies action above all others: FEAR - specifically social fear. Fear of rejection. Fear of being criticised. Fear of losing. Fear of failure. Fear of offending others. Fear of success. Fear paralyses us. If we were certain that we would not fail, we would happily take action in all areas of our lives.
It doesn’t matter what the action is that you need to take. You are what you do, not what you say you will do. The “right” action is usually the action that pushes you out of your comfort zone, into the uncomfortable, and toward the things you would normally avoid. The “right” action is moving into what scares you and because it scares you, you may be reluctant to act.
Some people need to get really miserable and depressed before finally taking action. It’s only when the pain is unbearable that people give up their resistance and let go of their fear (that’s a way to taking action).
Don’t wait till all the conditions are ready to meet your expectations. Take action to meet all your expectations.
So what can one do to take action?
1. Have clarity
It helps if you know where you want to go. Remove as many obstacles as possible that block the way from where you are to where you want to be.
2. Have a purpose bigger than you
Know your reason for being. Your purpose. Your why. Your dharma. Understanding that it is your duty to live upon your purpose and adding value to the lives of others will help you to think less about yourself and more about the world.
3. How can you help/serve/teach/inspire
Ask yourself: what makes you feel alive? The world needs people who can help/serve/teach or inspire. The more the merrier.
4. Live a life based on your values
What are your values? Living upon them is a direct connection with who you really are. Betraying them is what causes separation. The bigger the separation, the less confident and more confused you will be.
5. Stay focused
What you focus on expands. Release unnecessary weight from your life. If it is not aligned to your values or if it does not contribute to your life, eliminate it. Let it go.
6. See the glass half full
Your thoughts create your reality. You have the power to believe in what you want. Be careful what you think about. Focus on the positive and don’t limit yourself. What you think is how you act!
7. Have an action plan.
What is the next smallest step that you can take, right now? Keep it simple.
Visualise what you would like to achieve in 3-5 years time and go backwards:
Where do I want to be in 3-5 years time…
1 year…
1 month…
1 week…
1 day.
If you can’t complete your one-day, one week and one-month goals, you can kiss your 3-5 year goal away.
8. What not to do. Don’t take action if you are…
trying to be famous
trying to make money
because someone expects something from you
it is the easiest way.
Newton’s law of inertia states… A body in motion tends to stays in motion while a body at rest tends to stays at rest.
Action + meaning = Purpose – Confidence - Excitement
Action + no meaning = Stress – Frustration - Tiredness
No action + meaning = A dream – A wish - Idealisation
No action + no meaning = Depression – Feeling stuck – No clarity
Inaction is the mother of depression, and one thing I can guarantee is that inaction will keep holding you back and nothing will change. Only action will move you forward.
So make sure you take a step in the right direction TODAY. And if you need help figuring out what that step is, you know who to call!
To your action!
Nico Curia
