The One Thing That Matters Most in All of Life’s Pursuits
Action is the name of the game when it comes to achieving anything.
“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” — Thomas Jefferson
How do you find your passion?
How do you give your life meaning?
Most of us have lofty goals, dreams, ambition and at times make new year resolution. Yet, we somehow fail to achieve any of them. Why?
When I tell people I write, the first question people ask me is if that’s my passion?
Well, I don’t know if writing is my passion. But I can tell you writing is the only thing am always happy to wake up in the middle of the night to do.
I see a lot of people who tell me how they want to learn a new skill or try a new thing but they cant. My next question is why? They give me all forms of excuses they can come up with.
I have come to the realization that it isn’t that people don’t want to learn a new skill, get a new degree, or try new things. It’s that a key ingredient is missing in all of their pursuits.
You ask me what it is?
Action
Action is the shortest path between where you are now and somewhere else.
You want to be an author but you aren’t writing. How do you get to achieve that?
Often times, the biggest mistake people make when trying to improve their lives is one of the simplest. They don‘t take action based on what they learn from blogs, books or research.
Taking action is the one thing that separates the winners from the non-winners. The haves from the have-nots. And the high achievers from everyday people.
What we think or what we know or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.” — John Ruskin
Our life pursuits can be accomplished if we can put in the active word that is missing. Action.
And the truth is, no amount of motivation, inspiration or positive thinking can replace action. Action creates waves in the universe, letting it know that you mean business.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The good thing with action is that action produces clarity. And clarity allows you to see things as they are instead of how you imagine them to be.
When you are clear on something, the next step reveals itself automatically. If you want exceptional results, then you need extreme clarity.
Your first action reveals the second one. your second action reveals the third one. Your third action reveals the fourth one. And like that, till your actions form a series of a long unbreakable chain of extreme clarity.
When you take action, not only do more resources come your way, but you get feedback that helps you adjust your course and refine your approach.
Even philosophers know how important action is. When Marcus Aurelius said “you must build up your life action by action, and be content if each one achieves its goal as far as possible and no one can keep you from this. But there will be some external obstacle! Perhaps, but no obstacle to acting with justice, self-control, and wisdom. But what if some other area of my action is thwarted? Well, gladly accept the obstacle for what it is and shift your attention to what is given, and another action will immediately take its place, one that better fits the life you are building.” — MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS.
Do you want to leave that undesirable condition of yours? Then start taking action rather than talking.
I had no clear cut goal of what I wanted with my writing. All I know is I wake up and I get to action every day till I got to where I am now. And that action is what has made me publish over forty articles this year on medium.
“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” Karen Lamb.
One of my goal this year was to start a business. Action is the only thing that propelled me forward and made me start an online business.
I have always wanted to learn a new language. Taking action with my duolingo app is all that changes things for me.
Until you recognize what is stopping you from attaining what you want, you will continue to attract undesirable conditions says Tony Fahkry.
You don’t like your job? What action are you taking about it?
You don’t like your relationship? What action are you taking to improve it?
You don’t like where you are now? What action are you taking to get out of the situation?
Do you want to start a business? What action are you taking to start it?
“The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.“ says George Bernard Shaw
Out of all the steps required to achieve our goals taking massive action is by far the most important step. Up until this point all that has come before, although important has just been planning and mental preparation. No amount of positive thinking, studying, planning or reading books, will ever be a substitute for taking action.
In as much that am a big believer of planning before you act. Sometimes, we plan our way to not taking action at times. So don’t just plan. Plan and initiate because when you initiate you create momentum for yourself.
Momentum
“Success comes from taking the initiative and following up persisting eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?” — Tony Robbins
We are momentum-based beings. When we keep moving forward, we thrive. When we stop, we stagnate.
Momentum is the energy that takes a few small steps and turns the results into something you could never see coming. When you have momentum in your life, motivation is the easiest thing in the world says Tim Denning.
Action gives you momentum by starting. And starting is failing, learning, and growing. If there is no doing, there is no planning. When we start, we give ourself permission to fail. Starting and failing are synonymous. Failing is the process and all it takes to get in the process is through taking action.
Nothing defines you more than the life you have created for yourself. It is the sum of all your creative expressions and acts, your passions, your beliefs and your choices. And all these boils down to your actions.
Most of the things we pursue don’t require brilliance or talent. Most of them just need consistency and small changes. No task is unattainable when you do that.
If you think of us as momentum-based beings and focus on getting started, it can help with taking action, even if it seems like a small action. That’s how you get to the goal — you take incremental steps. And that’s obviously less intimidating than just looking at the big overarching goal. Break it down, keep taking little steps, and eventually, you’ll get all the way to the big goal. Says Jeffrey James
Momentum begets momentum, and the best way to start is to start. Gil Penchina.
When you’re in action, doing research, connecting with people, and finding ways to accomplish a goal. You are sending a powerful signal to the universe that you expect and anticipate meeting that goal says JackCanfield.
Once you gain momentum, you then birth courage.
Courage
You ask me what courage is?
Courage is taking action despite feeling fear.
Courage is hitting the publish button even when you know your work still needs to be improved and not perfected.
Courage is shipping your art to the world irrespective of people’s approval.
Courage is giving that business or side hustle a try irrespective of the outcome.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ― Winston S. Churchill
When I started writing, I’m always scared to reveal some certain part of myself in my writing. But over time, once my actions birth momentum and my momentum birth courage, I was able to march on irrespective of the outcome.
Some ask but I don’t know my passion. Here it is. Your actions create passion. Passion creates engagement. Engagement creates improvement. Improvement creates meaning. Meaning creates mastery. And mastery is the ultimate goal we all strive for.
In reality, you don’t find passion until you get good at something. When you develop competence in something you enjoy, you build more confidence to help you tackle larger challenges, and you continue to grow, which fuels more passion to repeat the process says Ayodeji Awosika.
Engagement gives our lives meaning. And engagement comes from the action tree.
If you keep taking action, you will find ways to achieve your goal that will bring you certainty and confidence says, Tim Denning.
So to the question;
How do I find my passion?, How do I give my life meaning?
They all stem from the action you are willing to take now. And as Ayodeji Awosika put it you can’t think your way into purpose, you act your way to build purpose. And through our purpose, we can find a meaning to our life.
The simple fact remains that, in life, we are not rewarded for what we know, but for what we do says JackCanfield
Your tomorrow depends on today. What you do today will determine where you are tomorrow. Momentum comes from action and action can be motivating.
In all, I do hope you give that new project of yours, that new skill you want to learn, your relationship and that business a try by putting in the necessary action. Because that is the key secret to accomplishment “positive thinking combined with purposeful action”.
