Take action!
What needs doing won’t get done if you don’t do it.
“Well, duh!”, you might be saying to yourself, but how often have you said you’d do a thing and never did it? Or half-assed something and gave up? Exercising, learning a new skill, quitting a bad habit, having a hard conversation, doing chores, maintaining personal hygiene, reading more, eating better–the list of “I should have’s” and “I’m gonna’s” is longer than a CVS receipt. Like that time you said you'd start a new exercise routine but never did, or when you promised to read more books but ended up watching TV instead. Yet, all of these scenarios have one simple thing in common: they can all be accomplished by taking the first initial step.
Unfortunately, we often let things fester and rot because we don’t implement preventative care into our routines. We procrastinate as if the clock on our mortal existence is infinite. All of our hopes and dreams never bloom because we failed to water them. The next thing we know, with grayer hair and weathered faces, we look back at the squandered years of our lives, wondering where all the time has gone, lamenting our lax sense of urgency. The regret of inaction is a heavy burden to carry. If only we had applied ourselves. If only we had known the dishes weren’t going to wash themselves before they turned into a giant pile of rancid shit!
Embracing action is always the antidote to whatever ails you–even when strategic inaction is the best course of action. The only time I've ever felt trapped in life, whether it be a job, relationship, addiction, depression, or an artistic endeavor, was when I was stagnant. I wasn’t moving the ball forward. Sure, I thought of everything I wanted to do/say or quit doing, but nothing changed until I started acting on those thoughts. All change and progress stems from that one initial move toward your goal, putting you firmly in the driver's seat of your life.
Don’t run backward to what’s safe and comfortable. Like that job you hate or the unfulfilling relationship. Don’t cling to the familiar numbing of a drug or drink that only gaslights you into thinking you can’t do anything better with your life. Don’t get stuck in the glue trap that is despair or the insidious hamster wheel of negative thought loops. Make today the day you do something different by putting your ideas into action! Focus all your energy on what you want to accomplish and do the fucking thing already! Nobody is going to do it for you.
Change is difficult. Even when we want to be less miserable, leaving our familiar misery can feel intimidating. Fear of the unknown can be much more frightening than leaving our unsatisfactory situation. And sometimes, when we do venture out to explore new territories, we panic, give up, and retreat because we haven’t given the unfamiliar thing a fair chance. Look back at your life and think of all the times you were afraid or nervous about doing something and wound up loving it. Or think of a situation where you ventured off your usual path and found a beautiful, unexpected outcome because of that decision.
Choosing to quit drinking alcohol was terrifying to me. I had drunk my entire adult life. Without it, I didn’t know who I was or who I would hang out with. But I needed a change. I was sick of the endless loop of hangovers, blackouts, and just feeling shitty. The quality of my life suffered, and it was robbing me of my full potential. Despite my trepidations, I told myself I wasn’t going to drink for thirty days. The first step I took was more of a stumble and fall onto my face, but It’s now approaching six years without a drink. It was undisputedly the best decision I ever made. And it all started with that one “fuck it; I’m doing this” moment.
The only way to change is to take action. Don’t wait for “the perfect moment” because it doesn’t exist. The right time is always now! And if something doesn’t work out as you expected, at least you’ve learned a valuable lesson. Every day, we are presented with little forks in the road–little decisions that can have massive impacts on our lives. Next time you have an idea about something you’d like to pursue or something new you’d like to try, just do it. The sense of accomplishment that comes from taking action is unparalleled. Have an adventure! Chart new territories, explore, and live. Not just be alive, but live!
So what will be your “Fuck it” moment? What’s something you’ve always dreamed of doing but have been too afraid to try? Or the small daily things you wish were different but became complacent with? Maybe there’s something or someone you finally need to quit. What have you been holding back from saying to a partner, friend, or boss? When you’re feeling down and depressed, do you reach out to someone, get out and take a walk, or just let it eat you alive? Everything takes effort. The more energy you put into something, the more it will change. The only thing standing in between you and the outcomes you desire is that one split second of courage to try. To act!
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
“Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.”
“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision.”
–Cicero
