A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action

It’s 6:00am (on a Saturday, I might add) and I just finished working out. It’s this new thing I’m trying this year. Doing the thing that I committed to doing and then talking about it, instead of the other way around. I’m finding that there is power in doing, rather than discussing. It’s going to take some getting used to. You see, I’m an external processor and like to talk about all of my plans and intentions. My husband thinks that I’m constantly changing my mind, when really I’m just discussing all available options and running through each scenario before making a decision (I swear he loves me). I also like to externally process because it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something. You planners and thinkers out there know what I’m talking about.

We all have goals, dreams, Pinterest boards, wishlists, intentions, and buckets lists. Sure, they can be helpful to set the tone for the day or year, but creating the lists and creating the goals doesn’t actually get the job done. Believe me, I’m just as guilty as the next person to slap up an inspirational quote on Instagram and feel like I’ve done something, well, inspiring. But have I really? Often the quest for the perfect quote or time spent thinking or planning on how to accomplish a particular goal are really just procrastination and distraction from doing the work.

Earlier this week everyone was posting their word of the year and I thought I should probably jump on that bandwagon. But why? Just because everyone else was doing it? Jordan Peterson in his book, 12 Rules for Life, talks about Rule #4, “Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.” It’s that whole run your own race, stay in your own lane stuff. Was I choosing a word just because other people were doing it or because it was something that was meaningful to me? Jordan’s rule isn’t only about not comparing yourself to others. He explains that comparison is natural, we just need to be focusing that comparison on ourselves. Are we fractionally better than we were yesterday? If we can make those incremental changes each day, using our self from yesterday as the baseline, then we will make some serious gains in life. I think it comes down to being true to who you are and want you want, ignoring the cool kids and the haters, and following what interests you, what challenges you, and what will make you grow.

Now, back to my word of the year. Yes, I do think there is a place for them, for some people. They can offer clarity and guidance for the year ahead, just like thinking and planning. But how much thinking, planning, and self-reflection does a girl really need? I toyed with the word relentless because I really like that word. Why? Because I’m already relentless! That word isn’t going to challenge or change me. So, I scrapped that word and spent an hour or two googling synonyms for follow-through, because, you know, it’s the ONE word of the year, not two. I didn’t find any words that spoke to me. Finish kept flashing in my mind. I need to finish what I start, what I commit to, I need to follow-through.

No word is going to help me do that. I don’t even need a reminder. I know it. When I’m being honest with myself and not making excuses, that is. I am amazing at starting things – it’s in my fiery Aries blood. But finishing? Finishing is boring. I lose interest and want to start something new. The beginning is always the most fun and interesting part. Which is why after almost nine years I still haven’t “finished” my weight loss because I simply “start” it each week and allow the excuses train (unlimited pizza included) to come rolling on by. Finishing what I start comes down to one little concept, discipline, or as my Exec, Adam likes to say, “Mastering the boredom of success.” Truly successful people take action on the boring things. That is what I am committed to doing. But I don’t want to talk about it. I want to show you.

Are you being honest with yourself? Do you know what you need to do in order to achieve everything you want and live the life you desire? I bet if you stopped and thought about it (but not for too long), you would know what needed to be done.

I’m at a place in my life and career where I don’t need to find another word or do any deep soul searching, I just need to take action. That might change a few years from now when I’m in a different season of my life. But right now? This season? It’s all about the hard work. I know what I want. It’s time to get after it.

What season of life are you in? Do you need time and space to find clarity? Do you need to figure out who you are or what you want? Or is it time to get to work?