Stop wasting energy worrying, avoiding and doomcasting. Take action. 📢
Curing Fear By Taking Action
How much energy do we waste worrying, avoiding or doomcasting what could be happening?
We live in a very mental world where we create whole lifetimes in our minds, worrying, wondering, weighing options...all in our own little head. I am definitely in Camp Thoughtful. Which is beautiful and crucial part of a design mindset, but I can sometimes get stuck at camp.
Instead of worrying, what if we were committed to taking action?
When we make the steps so incredibly large and overwhelming, it's easy (and wise!) to avoid action. Action isn’t necessarily making sweeping life changes. Who wouldn’t rather stay in their own uncomfortable life when the other option is so overwhelming?
Action can be:
A brave conversation
An honest and vulnerable question for your partner
The doctor appointment you’ve been postponing
Declaring (even to yourself) that something in your life isn’t working for you anymore
Setting a goal of what you want to achieve in the next year that’s different from the past
Asking a friend to be an accountability partner on your first steps forward
Moving something from the “dream” column of your life to the “goal with accountable steps”
Reconnecting with professional friends to ask questions about their professions, company, etc.
It might feel like small steps aren't enough.
After all, other people’s lives can seem to be making huge strides, dramatic changes, and bold decisions. But mostly, we are only seeing a tip of an iceberg. Literally a snapshot on social media.
Saying “I’m getting married!” or “I’m launching my own business!” Is a bold declaration with an impact that can last a lifetime - long after the first exciting announcement. We see the boldness, but we don’t see the work that follows.
A client recently was talking with me about a career change. In our conversations, he was ambitious about promising massive changes. But week after week, he didn't take any steps towards his goal. He couldn't find the time, or was unsure about how to take a bite out of these big goals. As he became increasingly frustrated, he blamed himself for "not getting his act together. He was demoralized.
We unpacked the situation and pondered, “What if you took a smaller step?”
A look of relief washed across his face. The bold declarations can be super exciting, but small consistent dedicated steps are the meat and potatoes of getting started and making lasting change. Soon he was reconnecting with his network and getting satisfying clarity about his next chapter.
“Action is the antidote to despair.” ―Joan Baez
Dive Deeper
Books:
The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron
Podcasts:
Brene Brown + Simon Sinek
A few spring book recommendations:
My (small) spring round-up is about community, safety at work and ADHD. Here.
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Registration for my April leadership workshop at RETHINK is open now. We're going to unpack what it means to be a leader and how to best navigate all the demands → [Learn more]
Could you benefit from 1:1 coaching? I always keep a spot or two free for new clients → [Let’s talk!]
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