Beware, The Comfort of 'Searching' As an Excuse For Inaction

We’re all Oliver Twist, and we all want some more.?

Some more time, more wealth, more skills, more opportunities. Yet, what are we doing with the little we already have? This is this week’s #questionoftheday.?

One of the most famous quotes in Charles Dickens 1945 allegory - Oliver Twist, was a phrase by the titular character;

Please sir, I want some more.?

Not surprisingly many who haven’t even read the novella are quite familiar with the phrase, though its interpretation in today’s use depends on its user.?

To me, in this context I’ll like to think it quite relates to all of us. To how we all seek just a little more of something, sometimes genuinely blind to what we already have, other times as the perfect excuse for our failure to actually do something, anything.?

I used to say there’s not enough hours in the day to do everything I wanted to do, but then I decided to really see what I did with my 24hrs and the reality of how much of my time (and life) I wasted on a daily basis was seriously alarming.?

I discovered I was guilty of this, because while I was ‘busy’ pretty much all day, I was hardly accomplishing anything. And this ‘busyness’ is like a plague that is ravaging our society today.?

We feel the need to keep up the appearance of being ‘busy’ regardless of if we’re accomplishing something or not. Most times in fact to mask the very truth that we are accomplishing nothing.?

I discovered that many things I thought I couldn’t do, or didn’t have just required a change in perspective.

Then there’s the issue of our talents and capabilities. What we have we don’t use, yet we’re constantly on the lookout, searching and praying for more.?

This reminds me of the parable of 'the talents' which a lot of us know but who’s lessons we have likely forgotten in the rush of getting by today.

I have personally decided to use the word 'busy' only when my hands and feet are tied up.?Literally!?

Okay maybe not literally but you get the point. Also, whenever I find myself about to complain about what I don’t have, I’ll force myself to first do an assessment of what I do have.?

The result is that my gratitude level has been in an all time high! I’m seeing myself in a new, positive yet ‘realistic’ light and it’s such a wonderful feeling!?

I discovered that many things I thought I couldn’t do, or didn’t have just required a change in perspective.?

So asking for more is all well and good, but let us take some time to honestly assess our current capabilities and I can promise you that you’re not nearly as lacking as you might think.?

At the very least, we can establish the mentality of adding to what we do have rather than living with the belief that we have little to nothing.?

The danger of this mentality is that we develop the crippling habit of doing nothing – a very easy habit to fall into, especially when all you have to do is —?nothing.?

Questions for consideration

1. What is it that you’re currently seeking?
2. What skills do you think you lack that’s limiting you from taking the needed action?
3. Have you done an honest assessment lately of what skills and abilities you already have?
4. When was the last time you congratulated yourself for how far you’ve come?
5. Have you counted your blessings recently?

We all know what we should be doing right now, or at least what we need to accomplish at this moment.

Then why aren’t we doing something about them? Why aren’t we trying to use what little we have and acting on our ideas??Simple.

The comfort of “doing nothing” has become a habit and the perfect excuse.

It’s incredibly easy, safe, demands no expectations and delivers no disappointments, so of course it is the easiest habit to acquire.

But is it the happiest way to live? Or the most fulfilling? Or even the most worthwhile way to spend our lives? I don’t think so.

The Solution;?Break The Cycle!

How??Start Doing Something, Anything Right Where You Are.

Get up, pick up that piece of paper and start planning;?

You want to travel??Open a savings account for your travel fund (this one’s for me).

You want to get a better job??Start researching skills you need for your desired job and find where to gain knowledge and skills.

You want to improve your social life or get a partner??Start accepting (and sending if necessary) invitations to go out, whether you feel like it or not.

Want to learn a skill??Sign up for that course you’ve been dreaming of taking but have been too practical or afraid to try. You might find the problems you imagine (like money) may not be absolutely necessary to get started.

Basically, resolve not to sit still anymore. It’s your life you’re wasting “doing nothing” and you can’t get it back. It is absolutely not okay to spend it going through the motions.?Reject it now!

Remember that doing something beats doing nothing everytime, no matter the outcome of trying.

You want to build your dream house but you don’t have the funds, then start buying bricks!

It may sound silly buying bricks when you don’t money to build, but try it and you will be amazed how things just come together by themselves.

What good will sitting and wishing do? The end result is that you will sacrifice those desires and have lived an unhappy life.

Happiness is not as unattainable as we make it out to be, if we can just start doing something, anything towards our own fulfillment.

The Logic:

Of course planting a forest is a daunting task for anybody, but those who have succeeded understand the principle of planting one tree at a time.

Happiness will not come to us, we need to reach it by taking one step after another towards our desires and it is through the journey that we attain fulfillment not the destination.

Remember that happiness is a means not an end.