Be honest how many of you read my blog each week and then don't action? I get many of you who come up to me and say how much you enjoy reading my blogs and I have no reason to believe this is not true, but how many of you truly take action? This got me thinking, in general what stops us from taking action? So this week's blog is about exactly that- hope you enjoy it and recognise what's potentially stopping you from taking action, so that you grasp the nettle and begin to unlock your true potential. From the research I've carried out it would appear there are 5 Things That Get in the Way of Action, the first two will come as no surprise, as I've talked about these in previous blogs. 1. Having a Fixed Mindset - thinking that you're unable to do whats being asked. 2. Fear - being afraid of looking bad, or fear of failing 3. Aiming too Big - feels like where you want to be and where you are right now is too big of a gap to achieve 4. No Meaning - Can't see the purpose/reason to do this 5. No Accountability - not being held responsible to achieve, since no one is checking if you do it or not Lets take a little look at the last 3 Aiming Too Big Very often we set ourselves a big goal to achieve, such as I'm going to run a marathon this year. Our enthusiasm often leads us to setting goals that are simply too big to achieve and/or sustain e.g. I'll run an hour every day to get fit enough to run the marathon. Sadly we fail very soon in our attempts as we find it impossible to keep this target up and become disillusioned, resulting in us giving up in the early days To be successful in our quest its far better to aim slightly lower. Begin by setting realistic targets that we can fit into our daily life, that are sustainable and can be build on gradually e.g begin power walking for 10 minutes every day for the first week. Following week increase to 15 minutes walk/jog every day etc No Meaning Often we fail to take action as we can't connect with the reason for taking action, it somehow doesn't feel relevant to us. We find it difficult to see how undertaking what is being suggested will have any impact on us. If you find this could be the reason you're not taking action, ask yourself these questions
What is it I'm struggling with? - define the issue/problem
What effects do I have with this issue and how is it impacting me now?
If I continue as I am, what will be the possible future effects I will have/endure?
What will my life look like if I continue down this track and don't take action now?
No Accountability
Many people fail to take action, simply because they are not being held accountable. No one is watching, so who cares? It's easy to carry on and avoid taking any action, since nobody will call them out.
The best way to overcome this, is to share with someone what your goal is and how you intend to achieve it. Knowing that they will be checking in with you and your progress will motivate you to take action as you will not want to disappoint them. Better still take on the challenge with a friend and motivate each other. As human beings we want to belong. We seek approval and acceptance. Find the right people to support and encourage your new habit, make yourself accountable to them and you will significantly increase your chances of sustained success.
Hope you found this blog interesting, if you would like to learn more about mental toughness please visit our website and get in touch. Drop me an email and let me know what you think, I would love to hear from you. Visit our website and check out our other blogs, there's something in there for everyone.