Focus on Action

There is a note on your desk. Stuff you have to do. Maybe it is a long to-do list, maybe it is one thing. That one thing on the long list or by itself never seems to get checked off. Maybe it is something you want to do and never get around to or you are not quite ready for it yet. Or maybe it is something you need to do that you keep putting off. Maybe it is not happening because you worry about a potential outcome, but then perhaps there is no particular reason you don’t get it done.

And the days slip by and you feel time gets away too fast. Some days you feel unaccomplished, other days you worry that you might never get what you dream about. The inner weather channel seems to be stuck on fog….
...today, expect more fog, with an occasional dark cloud and a chance of a short showing of light, if you pay attention.

All of this easily leads to healthy doses of occasional self-doubt or anxiety. It is easy to over-think and procrastinate. Keep that going for a while, and you may start feeling depressed or even paralyzed. Your sense of purpose is compromised by foggy conditions.

We all know this scenario in some form or another.

Fortunately, tiny little moves can give us that sense of purpose. It is all about focus. And focus means taking action.

Many studies in health, business, success, and happiness have reached similar conclusions about the importance of purpose to our overall well-being. All put together, they tell us that a sense of purpose is better for our health, success in life, and happiness than all the vitamins, power drinks, and gym or yoga classes together in the world.

   So go call or email that person you have put off for so long – now.
   Sign up for that class.
   Reach out to that person you admire or care about.
   Start drawing. Or singing. Or swimming.
   Go somewhere. A day trip. Or book a weekend. Or a long trip.
   Cook a meal for a friend.
   Make a birdhouse.
   Write a letter the old-fashioned way.
   Take some action today. Be willing to fail. Risk any outcome.

Take some more action tomorrow. It does not matter how big or small it is. The sense of accomplishment, of purpose, optimism, and hope for tomorrow suddenly becomes part of your mental state. Time seems to expand a little.

Make a point of taking a new action every day. Try to write your actions on a list with dates and bullets points. You won’t need many items on your list before you start feeling better about yourself. Feel the empowerment of a daily list of what you DID today instead of the endless to-do list, which always ends up as a list and awareness of what you DIDN’T do today. Your self-confidence soars. Optimism gives way to light and the fog starts to lift a bit.

When we accomplish anything, we feel good about the future and ourselves. Soon the chance of “failing” seems less of a risk. Stick with it to allow yourself to discover that failing is never permanent, and never means you are less worth than if you “succeeded.” Taking the action is the success. We learn from focusing and doing. From that we build experience, and with every action, we own more and more knowledge and confidence to work from.

Don’t worry, take action.
Today.

… clearing expected today due to action coming in from the south, significant improvements expected.