Success what it is and what it isn’t
Success means that you get on and do it. The major difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that unsuccessful people tend to think and talk but never take action. The majority tend to have dreams but their fear of failure stops them dead in their tracks. Be part of the top 10% that take concrete steps towards achieving their goals. See failure as a necessary part of learning and progressing in life. Your actions (not your thoughts) define you.
Do it – why you need to take action
Being willing to take part is far more important than talent. Gutsy people get ahead. Those that are willing to take action realise that not everything works out according to plan. They also understand that there is never a “right” time to do it – take action-they make things happen regardless of how they are feeling. There is no secret, if you do more you will get more.
Stop thinking, start living
You have the choice to step up to the plate and start making changes. Make it happen. Don’t make the common mistake of saying to yourself “I will do this when I Have more confidence; Have lost some weight; Have more money.
There is no substitute for straightforward action
Often we need to take a leap of faith and jump with our insecurities, excess weight or lack of funding, and so on. Procrastination and making excuses are the reasons why the majority of us remain chained to our monotonous lives. Don’t wait until you’re perfect or you feel absolute certainty. Get out there, take risks, make mistakes, give it a go. Just do it!
Preparation is fine but action is still required
Many people read books and spend vast amounts of money at seminars/courses, learning to improve their lives. What life? There’s nothing left after the workshops and seminars booked in. Seminars, lectures and a few great books are an invaluable way to keep positive and meet new people and I am a great believer in continual self-improvement.
BUT repeat weekend courses, 30 days here, 10 days later, reading books, etc. takes up a lot of time. You might even begin to think that there’s something wrong with you which the next course could fix. This type of thinking can lead you to become stuck in a rut of self-improvement where there is lots of learning but very little ‘doing’. Life is for getting to grips with, rolling up your sleeves, and getting stuck in.
Don’t overthink as this can lead to “analysis-paralysis”
We can all talk ourselves into things and out of things. Talking too much can take the edge off your resolve. Take action first, talk later. Do a brief risk assessment, consider to pros and cons and then LIVE it. Walk your talk and just do it. Demonstrate what you are made of-don’t discuss it. Knowing when to take action is an art form. There is definitely a time for pushing forward the time for holding back, this is not inaction, this is action management.
If you have already put things in motion, sown the seeds, there may be times that require patience. Ask yourself if there’s anything else you could begin to move things along. If there isn’t then pull back.
The best antidote to everyday depression is activity. I respect people who can pick themselves up from the lowest ebb in and move forward, managing their negative emotions. Ask yourself if there is anything you have withdrawn from, given up on, decided you cannot have or resigned yourself to accepting? If you keep on doing things the same way you will get the same results. Adapt, change direction, cut your losses-do something.
Summary:
1) Do something
Ask yourself what the price of your inaction is. If you knew that you could not fail, what would you do?
Stop thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong, do a general risk assessment and then get stuck in. Too much thinking can lead to procrastination and ultimately no action at all.
2) Do more
Unless your chosen path is to be a spiritual guru and meditate all day, the smartest way to have more is to do more. When we take action, miracles often happen; the universe meets you halfway.
As Goethe once said “whatever you can do or dream that you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now”.
3) Embrace uncertainty
When you get on and “just do it”, you get used to uncertainty. Instead of fear in your mind, you actually get to see the consequences, and as a result, uncertainty seems less frightening. Confidence is built through exploring and experimenting, not avoiding. Get comfortable with uncertainty, we all experience it and it will never go away. Learning to embrace and manage uncertainty is the way to dull its power.
4) Be decisive
Decisions, decisions, decisions. Be comfortable making decisions- the less you agonise, the more you decide, the better you get. Try not to think of decisions as being wrong or right, instead think of the consequences. Never tell yourself that you are hopeless at making decisions. Tell yourself you will cross that bridge when you get to it.
Remind yourself that whatever comes your way you will be able to deal with it.
Go on…do it…what are you waiting for??
Mandy X
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
