Learning to Take Action

I don’t think of myself as having a lot to say. I am a listener. I am a reader. I am not a writer.

Yet, I find myself awakened at 2 am with this overwhelming feeling to write. If you struggle with writing like I do, then you may understand how  this went down. At first I laid in bed discussing this in my head. Really? Can it wait until the morning? If I get up, I will have to get out of bed, turn the light on, and then I will not be able to go back to sleep. I will be awake for the day. And it will be a long one.

The act of writing is a trying process for me. The words just do no flow out of my head. But I also knew if I didn’t get up, they would be lost forever. I would not remember it in the morning. So as I continue to learn to be obedient and take action when led, I find myself writing.

Taking action is something I was hit or miss at. It could depend on different things. Did I want something badly enough? Was it important? Was it going to be fun or was it going to be hard? Was it going to require more energy  or time than  I want to give it? Could I fail? What was the cost?

These can be valid questions but they can also be excuses. Taking action does require effort. It may be hard. Maybe I don’t want it that badly. Maybe the price is too high.  It can be easy for me to talk myself out of making the effort.

When I avoided making a change or decision I found myself getting complacent or stuck. That was not my intention but that was the result. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into years. I found myself looking back with regret on lost time or what could have been.

I would love to say that immediately upon realization  I was stuck, I jumped into action but that was not the case. For me it took some time. I wanted reassurance I was taking the “right” step or that the results I wanted would be guaranteed. I did not want to fail. I know…… silly but true.

In each situation,  I had to get to the point that I didn’t want any more time to pass me by.  Too much time had already been lost. I had to do something.  That was scary but  the alternative was to continue as normal and that was no longer an option. I had to be brave and take a step. I had no idea what the outcome would be. I just knew it was time.

The funny thing is that once I did, I felt better. It wasn’t that I always had an amazing result or even saw a result right away. It just felt good to be moving forward in some way. There were times I didn’t even realize I was stuck or what I was missing out on until I took made a move.

I have learned that no matter what the circumstances are that bring you to the point of realization something has to change, it’s time for action.  No matter how big or small the first step feels, take it. Being stuck may be comfortable but it is not living, it is existing.

I have also learned that having a support system is crucial in helping move through the process. Accountability and encouragement go a long way in making positive changes that will stick. It is easy to quit and not follow through.

Lastly, I have learned, don’t wait. Listen to you instincts. Especially when you feel strongly about something. Do it. Even if it means getting up at 2 am. Sometimes the small steps have bigger results than you think.