From knowledge to action: how to stop dwelling and start doing
We live in an age of self-awareness. We know the reasons why we overeat or sabotage our own success. I, for one, am tormented by my closet clutter. On a daily basis I think about the tops that are unflattering and dream about a streamlined wardrobe with fewer items that are each beloved. And yet everyday I don't touch the closet mess with a ten foot pole. At this point, not only is my closet filled with junk, but that mess is now encroaching on my psychic space. So how do you go from knowledge to action? That's the hump that can be hardest to get over. Here, some ideas on putting our awareness into action.
What's stopping you? Sometimes what keeps us from doing the thing that we know is best for ourselves, say, stopping after that first bowl of ice cream, is a deep desire to self-sabotage. Maybe we think we're not worthy of being fit and healthy or any of the things we associate with physical greatness: drawing attention to ourselves, attracting suitors, even achieving our goals. If you think this might be the case with you, it's time for some deep excavation. Why do you think you don't deserve the best in life? Sit and imagine yourself with all you ever dreamed of --- a clean closet, a fat savings account, whatever. Does it give you a twinge of discomfort? Why? Are you worried that if you can't obsess about your closet you'll have to start thinking about the big stuff, like what you're actually doing with your life? These questions aren't easy to answer, but they are vital. Grab a notebook, sit with these thoughts, and write it out.
Now, stop thinking. You mulled and considered and dug deep into your psychic self, but now it's time to get on with it. This is especially relevant to people who describe themselves as "planners." You can plan and plan and plan, and never pull the trigger. Break with tradition and turn off that inner dialogue that says maybe there's a better way or something you haven't considered. Channel Michael Jordan, and just do it.
Do it first thing. The glorious thing about tackling the biggest item on your to-do list first is that it takes a huge weight off your shoulders. Getting the biggest burden out of the way is like throwing the ballasts from the ship -- it frees you up and clears the decks for the rest of your life.
Set a timer. Almost always, the thing we dread (doing our taxes, sorting the recycling), is not only as bad as we think it's going to be, it usually takes far less time. Set a timer for 30 minutes (or whatever chunk of time you can reasonably set aside) and go at your task with full attention. Stay focused, and you'll probably be amazed at what you can accomplish in a short amount of time. Then, if your project is complete, breathe a sigh of relief. If not, give it another chunk of time tomorrow.
Remember you're imperfect. And that's great. Often our own perfectionism keeps us from beginning. For students, for example, the pressure to write an A paper can be so great that it stops us from sitting down at the computer to hammer out some ideas. This is where a mental trick can really help to get you going. As a smart lady once told me in my college days, "Sometimes you just need to write a C paper." Knowing that even the smartest people can sometimes be middle-of-the-road --- and still go on to be productive, successful members of society --- gave me permission to lower my expectations for myself and just begin. I never did get a C on a paper, but her advice relaxed my perfectionism enough so that good ideas could actually flow.
Know that it's natural. It's human nature to want to avoid discomfort. Who wouldn't want to stay in bed eating chocolate and watching Murder She Wrote instead of digging the car out of the snow and driving to work through rush hour traffic? That's normal. Sometimes just knowing that you're not some lazy, self-sabotaging freak of nature can make you chill out enough to attack what needs to be done free of self-critical baggage.
How do you make yourself "just do it"?
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