Take Action
Do you have a goal? Are you taking regular action that will lead you to the achievement of that goal?
Most people will answer yes to the first question but, they will give excuses for the second. If you are one of these people - Your Goal Is In Danger Of Never Being Achieved! Our goals will only become reality if we take action to achieve them.
If you have been making excuses the only choices you have now are 1. “Continue to make excuses and only dream about achieving your goals.” or 2. “Take action and achieve them.” The truth is at first what action you take doesn’t matter nearly as much as the fact that you are taking action at all. If you were to spend just one hour a day on achieving your goal for the next year chances are you would either reach your goal or you would be much closer to achievement.
Why do we make excuses?
Fear is our number one reason for making excuses. We fear failure. We fear rejection, ridicule and the loss of love. We’re afraid of making the wrong decisions. We are afraid of __________ and __________ (You name it!) We are so afraid of so many things that we make excuses for anything that is outside our comfort zone.
We can take charge of our fear!
It is not the fear that holds us back. It is our response to fear that keeps us paralysed. The response to stop when we are afraid is one that has been ingrained in us for thousands of years. The purpose for it is to keep us from getting hurt or killed. We naturally stop when we are about to cross the street and a car suddenly comes screeching around the corner. This response can save our lives when we are in real danger.
The problem is that this paralysis response is inappropriate when it comes to the pursuit of our goals. In fact, it is directly harmful! As long as we listen the fear we will never achieve anything more than we currently are. If we want to succeed we need to change our response to this fear.
“It’s okay to be afraid and to take action anyway!”
We have the ability to question our fears in a logical manner. Let’s say that you are afraid of public speaking. Ask yourself questions and answer them.
For example:
Q: What is the worst thing that can happen if I speak in public?
A: The worst thing that could happen is I get up there and forget the words and I make a fool out of myself.”
Q: why does this bother you?
A: It would be embarassing.
Q: Is there any real danger in being embarassed?
A: No, I won’t really be physically hurt but I think it would be awful.
Q: Why would it be so awful?
A: I don’t like to be embarrassed but, then no one does. I guess it’s not really awful. It’s just a little uncomfortable and that’s okay. I can deal with being a little uncomfortable for the sake of my own personal growth.
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July 20th, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
I don’t focus on goals as much as commitments to how I want to be in the world. For me the secret is tuning into what I really care about in life. Then the commitment and action is easy. See, for instance, Oprah Winfrey…Bringing Wisdom to Life or Learning to Swim.
Commitment and practice. Commitment and practice. They’re much more powerful than goals, IMHO.
July 21st, 2008 @ 5:23 pm
Jean- Thank you! The idea of focusing on how you want to be in the world is great! Yet - don’t you think that “to focus on how you want to be in the world” is a goal in itself? (just a bit of a different angle from which to look at it?)
July 23rd, 2008 @ 3:15 am
Interesting to read Jean’s comment? I find I need a goal that is also a challenge to move forward , to reach a dream, to make a difference.
I think goals can also hold us back if they don’t make out heart sing. The question I am now asking myself is ” Does this goal move me forward, get me out of bed joyfully each day, Is this what I really want?
Excuses and fear- I would also ad in procrastination- which again can relate to fear.
July 23rd, 2008 @ 10:07 am
Suzie- You make some excellent points! Goals can indeed make us get ‘out of bed joyfully each day’. It is also a fantastic point that you bring up that if a goal doesn’t at least provide some challenge we tend to loose interest.
I usually teach my clients that a goal should make you stretch out of your comfort zone and at the same time be believable. If you set your goals outside of the realm in which you believe you can achieve it then you will not really put your heart into succeeding. (This level is different for everyone but with these two guidelines you can find what’s right for you.)