Sometimes it’s hard to take action. The what-ifs are a mile long, the potential risks make your stomach turn and you feel like your jumping head first into darkness. It’s hard. But being paralyzed is worse; action will always triumph, as it creates the opportunity for learning and growth. 

So try my recipe to move-whether backwards or forwards (it will still help you gain clarity in your situation). 

1)Take small baby steps. Sometimes throwing yourself into a new and unknown situation can be overwhelming- even for the biggest risk takers. Try doing something within your current means (risk, financially, socially) that will still allow you to quickly abort mission if you feel the need to throw in the towel.  

2) Assess your progress and what you have learned. How did the baby step feel for you? What can you take away from your efforts? Did this help in guiding your next step forward? Sometimes these early stages give good indicators if an idea/course of action is not favourable for you OR something to actively start pursuing. 

3) Keep this momentum going (baby step, assess and reflect, baby step, assess and reflect) by creating some accountability. Tell a friend what your doing, make a call to your mentor, get some people involved. It’s great to be accountable to yourself; but sometimes,  it’s good to acknowledge that the will is weak. 

As I mentioned in my last post, contemplation will do nothing but hurt your brain. When you wake up from your stupor, you will see that you are standing in the EXACT same place as before. So get cracking with that new idea or venture, educational program or difficult decision…maybe its all the contemplation that’s making it harder for you. 

If you need help with figuring out your first step forward, that’s fine. That’s what friends, mentors, counselors and family is for. But you need to take actively take ownership and ask for this support. 

Thanks for reading,

Catalyst