Knowledge is only power if you use it. Let’s reflect on how patterns show up in our life and what they mean. Can you remember the last time you decided to learn a new skill, to make a change in your career, or to start a new project or business?
Like you, there have been instances, when I’ve found myself in an ever-learning or constant gathering-of-information stage. However, allowing myself to indulge in this behavior simply keeps me in a stagnant state, or worst, causes frustration. My continuous obsession with gathering and hoarding information with no real plan to take action, only reinforced my ineffective pattern. This looping pattern came with its own set of negative, lingering consequences. Finally, I decided to make a change. For those looking for a way to break these negative patterns, there is hope.
The best way to tackle this, is to start where you are, without judgement. Make the decision to take action by taking the first step, without self-criticism. Next, work to increase your skills incrementally, step by step, over time. With each action you take, your confidence will increase. The best way to break unproductive cycles of continuously learning and hoarding knowledge, is to implement what you learn immediately. This will allow you to build momentum instead of frustration. There is little joy in being the smartest or knowing the most, when you’re not being fulfilled. Learning should breed doing. If learning is your seed, taking action is planting and your dedicated follow-up and follow-through is cultivating, then you’ve created an opportunity for a good harvest.
As we plan for our future, there are steps that can be taken to get past previous episodes of inaction and procrastination. We all know people who have great passion and dreams but they haven’t been able to bring them to fruition. You may even be that person. I know that I’ve been this person, at different stages in my life. I didn’t take action because I had a fear of failure or falling short of expectations.
You may have been stagnant because you feared the unknown, lacked confidence or believed it was not the right time. Either way, we didn’t take action. We’ve all been there, however, now is the time to change course. Now is the time to think differently, act positively and take action. Once you realize, you already know enough to get started, it positions you to take action. When I say, getting started, it means, you know enough right NOW to take the next step. Even if your next step is simply, making a decision to get into motion and not to quit. By acknowledging, your past does not have to be your present or future, you can take the following steps to create a workable plan.
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Practice mindfulness breathing – at first glance this may appear to be a frivolous suggestion. However, recent studies have found that breathing properly can improve your attention span and help you focus better. According to Urban Balance, therapist, Andrea Watkins, LCSW, “Deep breathing is one of the easiest, most convenient and natural tool to combat issues like stress and anxiety, reduce pain, high blood pressure and even aide in digestion”. There is great benefit to practicing deep breathing exercises. It will not only relax your body but allows you to clear your mind of thoughts that may be hindering you from taking action. Since deep breathing is a learned discipline, Andrea Watkins recommends the following techniques to gain the best benefit. “Breathe in calmly, through the nose, filling your abdomen and chest, for 5 seconds (or longer, not exceeding 7 seconds). Hold this breath in for 3 seconds. Slowly and gently release the breath through the mouth for 5 seconds, or more (whatever is comfortable). Breathe out through slightly parted lips or “O” shaped lips. Repeat this 5 times, or even better, for 5 minutes”.
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Commit to “process goals” to support your measurable outcomes. Your process goals will establish routines that encourage you to stay on track and challenge you to incorporate what you’ve learned. Process in this instant, is different than how we traditionally view process. Process goals focus more on the creative actions you take to accomplish your larger scale goals. They are used to create an environment for you to achieve your overarching goals and objectives. Including expectations that can be measured, adds a level of discipline to your commitment. Your process goals outline what you will do, when you will do it and how often it will happen. For instance, will your process goals include journaling, meditating, training, ideation, investing in personal development to improve skills and knowledge, strategizing to scale services or products, etc.? Process goals are used to promote an atmosphere of creativity to ensure the success of your outcomes. Process goals encourages and protects an attitude of creativity to meet your goals, where as process charts traditionally focus on the hard deliverables.
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Act immediately by taking the first step – What’s important about taking the first step is to realize that you will encounter many invisible boundaries. After you absorb information that enhances your skills and knowledge, it’s essential for you to outline a plan to implement what you’ve learned. There’s a huge difference between gathering information and actually putting it into action to accomplish a desired outcome. You can’t afford to remain immobile, waiting for things to be perfect and hoping for the stars to align. The perfect time will not just show up, you have to take the first step for it to happen – it is your action that creates the perfect moment. There will always be room for improvement, and you should be encouraged because this means there is always an opportunity for growth, if you keep an open mind.
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Stay focused – it’s important to have a strategy that you will commit to do routinely. Remember that applied learning, keeps you engaged and is one of the best ways to counteract information overload and frustration because you are continuously acting and re-evaluating. Maybe you have discovered that your career path has stalled. The incremental and disappointing projects or promotions are no longer bearable. Or, perhaps you’ve realized that many of your priorities are being shifted until they are just memories. What I know, is that you can get back on track. It’s time to hold yourself accountable. To ensure you meet your goals, you may need to get a coach or accountability partner. They can help to stay focused and keep you motivated as you create a new path.
