Results Words are More Powerful than Actions

Results Words are More Powerful than Actions

Indeed, we've all been there. You have a notion of what has to be done, but you lack the ability to actually carry it out. You know it is the appropriate thing to do, but you just can’t act. Your options are limited. You give the situation much thought, but ultimately you decide to do nothing to change it. You wait. You wait for life to come along and work everything out for you. The next step is to accept the results. There are circumstances in which this strategy could be appropriate, and in some cases, the best option; yet, most of the time, we lack the intestinal fortitude to choose.

All it takes is a little bit of bravery, really. At least, that's how I feel about it. When I am at a loss for the right course of action, I have turned to taking a hard look in the mirror. I've learned that even when I know that taking a certain course of action will be beneficial in the long run, I still have trouble doing it of my own volition out of pure fear. As I consider all of the "potential" outcomes, I just can't bring myself to take the next step. 

Where does that leave the other behaviors? However, the consequences of that course of action could be just as severe, so I'm not going to take it either. Unfortunately, I must leave this place. One of these things has to give. I keep coming back to this crossroads, but I never choose one path over the other. Inconveniently, there is very little light. When I do get the guts to take action, it's usually too late to prevent more severe consequences than those already on the table.

One could argue that more damage is not always done, but that is debatable. It’s true. In any case, playing the victim removes any agency you could have had over the circumstances. You may be thinking that's not right. What if you make a snap judgment that turns out to be a mistake? Wouldn’t it be wiser to consider things properly before you do anything stupid? And again, you're absolutely right. Unfortunately, most individuals spend excessive amounts of time thinking about it. Sure, if there's something else that needs to come first, that's OK, but in most cases, that's not the case either. The problem is that they refuse to take the essential steps.

If you want to take charge of your life, one of the most important things you can do is practice making decisions. Having this ability is a skill in and of itself. It seems that some people simply have a natural knack for it. They appear to have this skill naturally. However, this does mean that there is room for improvement for the rest of the population. The key is repetition. The "decision-making muscles" need to be exercised. In this situation, you just cannot afford to sit around and do nothing. It's time to face your fears, specifically those of falling short and missing out.

Strange as it may seem, a more "passive" resource is your best ally in developing the ability to act when the situation calls for it. Simply put, it's giving up. Getting over your resistance to life's inevitable challenges frees you to take on more without being frozen by worry. Ponder that for a moment. You just cannot keep a tight rein on everything. Sadly, this is true. Another undeniable truth is that, unless you have psychic abilities, you have no way of knowing what will happen in the future. You will make mistakes in life, but you can heal and go on. Accept all of this, and you’re well on your way to being able to make tough judgments.

It's not hard to accept what's happening. What you're doing is something you routinely engage in. Do you have a car? So, if you travel that route, you'll have to assume that the driver approaching from behind you isn't completely insane and won't slam on the brakes and cause a collision. You have done a lot of accepting if you have ever crossed the street at a traffic light or ridden in a car with someone else behind the wheel. 

Exactly what is your method? You're in a bind, therefore there's nothing else to do. You must reach your destination. Without getting in a car, you have little chance of reaching your destination. It's a gamble, but you feel like you've got to make it because you've run out of other options. 

How about you apply that tolerance to your choice? Nothing in life is ever a sure thing (generally speaking). Perhaps you made the wrong decision, but at least you made one. Who's to say that if you'd gone the other way, you wouldn't have been struck by lightning? One simply cannot know whether different actions would have yielded better results. Put this in your acceptance pile as well. This will boost your confidence. Having faith in me will get you halfway there.

Ascend to the challenge. Choose. Don’t be a victim of circumstance. You can accomplish so much more knowing that you are responsible for the choices that have gotten you to where you are in life.