Step Three: Take Action
Take action is Step Three in mastering clutter free living. It is also the most important and often the hardest. Taking action is often where we stumble.
Background: Steps One and Two
Let’s start by reviewing Steps One and Two. Step One is to Get Clarity. Without a clear idea of what you want to do or where you want to go, it is hard to figure out how to get there. In fact, it could be impossible. Imagine trying to find a book in a room that you’ve never been in before, with no light. Yup, darn near impossible.
Step Two, is Create a Strategy. When you know where you are going or what you want to accomplish, it is much easier to create a strategy that will get you there. Create a plan including the stepping stones or steps that you will take to get to your accomplishment.
The Challenge
Why is it that so many of us stumble when it comes to taking action? I have seen this time and time again with clients. And let’s be real: I am my best client in this area. I too have often struggled and stumbled when it comes to taking action. What’s the big deal? Why do we have so much trouble.
Often the answer lies in our Mindset. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t — you are right”, Henry Ford. This oft-quoted phrase holds the secret to our challenge. If you believe you will not be successful, it may be almost impossible to tackle even the simplest of first steps. Conversely, if you think you will be successful, you may be jumping into action as soon as possible.
Mindset can make the difference.
If you think your Mindset is holding you back from taking action, here are some self-coaching questions that may be helpful in getting from frustrated to fantastically successful.
- What is the conversation in your mind when you think about taking action on your goal or desired achievement?
- What would need to be the different conversation in order to be successful?
- How do you need to show up in your life, or in your project, in order to take action?
- Who do you need to be in order to take action?
- What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
- What would be different if you considered this challenge simply an experiment? No wins or losses, just an experiment to see what happens. If you don’t like the outcome, you can always change to another experiment or change a variable.
Setting yourself up with an I will be successful mindset can often fend off the stumbles and ensure that your desired achievement, becomes a reality.