Why Taking Action is Terrifying
What is it that makes it so hard?
How does it feel to study for an exam for a course you hate? Or preparing that social media calendar for that one client you really cannot stand? Or maybe going to that yoga class you signed up for last week?
It sucks. I mean there’s no other way to say it and the sooner you get it off your chest the better.
We know we need to be doing those things and that we most probably will benefit from them but for some reason, it just feels like any progress is too much and it may be better to “start tomorrow”.
We don’t do them not because we enjoy it, or because it gives us time to do what we love (because let’s face it, you’re probably wasting away on Netflix). We do it because we’re afraid.
Actions give you responsibility and being responsible when things go bad is not what most people want to feel.
We are afraid of failing so much that we allow it to take over the anticipation and excitement of the extraordinary things that can come out of it.
We are naturally wired to be negative and remember negative experiences more than the positives. This may have worked in the times of our ancestors when going into a lion’s den feeling positive about them being friendly wouldn’t really end well. However, this is the 21st century and what we can do is recognize that bias, yes, can protect us in many situations but can also rob us of moments of happiness purely because of figments of imagine.
Action is powerful — even the small things
As terrifying as it is, actions set us free. It’s like that bungee jump; those first few seconds are terrifying but once you’re in there, there’s no point to worry because you’re doing it. There is no turning back now.
That’s why motivation is complete baloney. It only exists for things that give us a sense of excitement and passion and we only feel this way when we are feeling excited and passionate about something and we are only excited and passionate about something when we do it. Pretty funny, isn’t it?
It’s easy to think that what you do is powerful only when you launch the next Tesla or when you quit your job or when you jump off an airplane. But sometimes power comes from your seemingly ordinary life. It can come through the weekly review meetings at work, through taking care of the people you love, through water cooler conversations, or maybe in your small talk with the cashier at your local grocery store.
I know, that sounds boring and extremely underwhelming. And maybe it feels like it sometimes but I am here to hit you again with that cliché to tell you: it’s all about perspective. No seriously, it is.
More often than not, we are fascinated by what’s novel and new and exciting, and of course, we should be. But it’s good to realize that life is more often than not the accumulation of those little decisions and actions we do every day. It’s about showing up when it doesn’t feel so exciting and fun. It’s about those moments where we give ourselves a pep talk before giving a presentation. It’s about when we are there to surprise our friends on their birthday and see their reaction. It’s about coaching our colleagues even though no one is paying you for it.
Helping others and working towards something so much bigger than yourself and your ego makes those boring and underwhelming conversations beautiful. They give them meaning.
You don’t need to be a doctor or a firefighter to change people’s lives. And the universe is not going throw the opportunity to do so at you so what you can do is create those opportunities for yourself.
So yes, action is powerful. Small actions are powerful. And you don’t need to change the world because you probably won’t. What you can do is do your best and whether you believe it or not, it makes a difference.
