ACTION: The Only Way to Move Forward

"PURPOSEFUL ACTION"

If you haven't read the introductory article to this series on "The Importance of ACTION" be sure to do so first. You can read it here

As I begin with this first part of this series I want to be sure to emphasize that I am talking about PURPOSEFUL action or, action with purpose.

What do I mean? Well, have you ever seen a dog chase it's own tail? There is a lot of action going on in the process but very little is accomplished!

Look at the images above and you will see three different ways that action is taking place with, perhaps three different purposes.

The first image shows a guy running from a dog which may indicate that his ACTION is motivated by FEAR! Think about it: It IS possible to be "paralyzed" by fear and not even be able to move BUT if this guy wants to avoid being bitten and/or attacked, HE WILL TAKE ACTION with the PURPOSE of avoiding being bitten by the dog.

If you look at the image in the middle you will see a couple of people that are jogging or running. Though it appears that they are simply jogging we have no idea what their PURPOSE in doing so really is, do we? They actually could be running from a dog as well! They could be running as a form of exercise and they may actually enjoy doing so which could mean that, for them, it is also for fun. And, finally, they could also be jogging or running as a means of "transportation" with the PURPOSE of getting from one place to another.

And finally, in the picture on the right, we see an older gentleman riding a bike. Riding a bike definitely requires ACTION in order for you to get that bike moving and it also requires ACTION (at some point) in order to keep it moving. Sure, you can "coast" for a bit and not peddle but, sooner or later, if you wish to keep moving, you must peddle that bike some more. Again, we have no idea what the PURPOSE of this bike ride is by just looking at the picture. Fear? I've been chased by a dog while on a bike before, have you? Exercise? Fun? Transportation from one place to another? Though we don't know the actual PURPOSE of the bike ride we DO know that it requires PURPOSEFUL ACTION - or a DECISION - in order to get that bike moving.

So, as we discuss the IMPORTANCE or even NECESSITY of ACTION in our own lives, it is important for us to be aware of the PURPOSE of what we are doing...the WHY of our activity.

I shared with you on my last podcast that I decided (made an "active decision") that I needed to put some ACTION into my life in several areas. I decided that I need to take some PURPOSEFUL ACTION in the areas of my physical health, my spiritual health as well as the health of my business. I put myself on a strict diet and began to work out on my home gym again. I began on a schedule to spend some time reading my Bible every day and I also wrote down some specific, DAILY goals that I needed to be doing with and for my business. (Notice from the last article how important it is to do this activity on a DAILY basis).

As is always the case, your "WHY" (your PURPOSE) will greatly determine your success in maintaining your ACTIVITY.

So, as I talked about in the last article, you must first BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF as far as the ACTIVITY or ACTION that needs to take place in your own life and in what area(s). You must also decide the "WHY" or the PURPOSE of your action and then dedicate yourself to TAKING ACTION DAILY.  

That's your homework assignment for today. Yes, even that requires that you take action and not just think about it or talk about the need to do so. You MUST take action and DO IT!

In my next article we will discuss the fact that ACTION is the only way to get out of a rut when your activity has ceased or you have lost sight of your purpose.  

Be sure to join me then but, until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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Impossible?

The progression of the message in the past few articles has really been by accident. Really, it has. But, even though by accident, they all "connect" in the message and even with what I'm sharing with you today.

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Even though I didn't PLAN it this way, is it really an "accident"? I am one that tends to think that things don't happen by "accident" but for a reason. Perhaps - and I believe it is - this is one of those situations that appear to be accidental but are not an accident at all.

 

Here's what I want to be sure that you understand right from the start...YOU ARE NOT ALONE in your struggles to stay focused with a positive mindset and to move on IN SPITE OF failures that want to drag us down along the way.

 

That's why it is so important for us to STICK TOGETHER and share this POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT along the way! We NEED each other if we are to progress steadily and positively forward in this journey.

 

If you've not read the past 4 or 5 articles you might want to pause here for a few minutes and do that so that you can see how they all have come together and attach themselves to today's article. Go on, we'll wait for you.

 

If you want to take that "first step" and if you want to push yourself to determine how far you can go then you must start by doing what is necessary.

 

You must TAKE ACTION even if that "action" is doing what you already KNOW you can do. You may or may not be surprised at how many people struggle to even do what they KNOW they can do. Many times it's that fear of failure that has us paralyzed to where we cannot even do what we KNOW is necessary but, indeed, that is something that we MUST do in order to gain that forward momentum.

 

You "do what you gotta' do"!

 

Once you start gaining control and you find yourself doing what is NECESSARY without the pitfalls of fear and/or doubt then you must move on and push yourself just a little to discover what actually IS possible in your life.

 

It's just a little nudge but, at the same time, it is HUGE in our progression. You see, once we get to where we start doing - without the worry, fear and doubt - what is NECESSARY for us to do  then we have the confidence and courage to step out just a bit.

 

This is NOT a huge jump from, let's say, walking a mile to running 10 miles. That's TOO BIG of an adjustment to make for one that has just accomplished the task of walking a mile!

 

Let's just stick with this example and see what would go from "necessary" to "possible".  The WALKING a mile (and you might have to even work up to that mile) would be "necessary" to get you moving and to get your blood pumping and you mind CLEARING UP. The next step, something that is "possible" might be to jog for 30 seconds and then walk for 30 seconds and to keep doing that through that mile.

 

YES, THAT'S POSSIBLE!

 

You can apply this to whatever it is that you need to in order to make this personal but the "possible" has to go beyond the "necessary" in order to advance your progress. Make sense?

 

And, you know what? From my experience I have found that once you start doing the "possible" you will, without much help or motivation from anyone else, start to challenge yourself to do just a little more and a little more until, before you know it, you are doing what you would have previously considered to be IMPOSSIBLE.

 

Don't worry about what is "impossible" at this point. Just start with what is necessary and move on from there.

 

See? YOU CAN DO THAT, can't you?  (Sure you can).

 

I'm not sure when my next blog will be published since I will be away at Dani Johnson's "First Steps to Success" in San Antonio for the next few days. But, let me give you this WARNING: I'll be sharing things that I learned while there. So, the warning is to buckle in and hang on!

 

Until then, friend, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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