Prioritizing Action.
I think the topic of “action” is a fitting one for my first post given that my primary goal over the last three-ish years has been just this - prioritizing “action”. This goal was born out of the realization that to create positive momentum in my life, I needed to start doing, rather than thinking.
I would put myself in the category of “overthinker” especially in regards to professional situations that have involved “putting myself out there”. For the last stretch of time, I have struggled in finding the confidence to begin sharing my practice and more general thoughts regarding wellness/training on a larger platform. I have been an expert in finding excuses for why I shouldn’t - too “crowded” of a space, too difficult to develop a following, “what if people don’t like my writing?”, etc etc.
I have also been paralyzed by options - feeling like there are a lot of places I can spend my time and energy and constantly questioning which option is the best use of my gifts, talents, etc.
I’ve found that prioritizing “action” is the only thing that has been helpful. I think if you fall in a similar “analytical/overthinker” category, often you have to just do. Once you start, you can figure out what works or pivot, but the most important thing is just getting it going.
An added benefit I’ve found is the satisfaction that comes along with pushing back against my natural inclination - doing when my mind says “wait, let’s just think about this a little more” has been uniquely powerful and I’ve found has also translated positively to areas outside of my professional life - generally becoming more decisive as well increasing confidence in both my words and actions.
Prioritizing action has allowed me to ‘“test” my fears and thankfully in most cases has helped me see that they were not real. This has opened things up for me in terms of more creation and out-of-the-box thinking.
On the subject of fear, take a look at “fear-setting” - a valuable exercise made popular by Tim Ferris. It’s basically the opposite of goal setting - helping instead to define your fear and actually see it and measure it. Also on this topic, Bob Kegan, a Harvard psych doc and legend in the adult development world created a sort-of similar exercise (long before Tim) called an “immunity to change” map. It is technically supposed to be facilitated by someone else, but I think the exercise is also valuable done solo. Peep that here.
“God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.” - St. Augustine
Action!
-Christian