We always talk about letting go of your fears and expectations and just starting to take action, but what does that actually mean? Taking action means that you take the first step towards achieving your goals dreams or any other opportunities that will advance you in life. Taking action means that you understand the outcomes are uncertain and that anything can happen, but you step in anyway and are present in the moment.
When you are too focused on expectations for the future or too afraid to take the first steps because of past experiences or past failures, you will likely procrastinate and never set yourself up for success. This is why learning what taking action truly means and how you can apply it to every aspect of your life will allow you to become the best version of yourself and keep yourself accountable.
Even if you do not succeed based on that first step, you can always adjust and learn from your mistakes. The most important part is that you were taking action and taking one step closer to your goals. Sometimes the hardest part is to just get going because of the fears and uncertainty that hold you back.
When hesitation and self-doubt come into play, it can be difficult to take action which may leave you trying to overanalyze your planning process and prepare yourself for any potential outcome. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy that will hold you back and prevent you from becoming your most productive and efficient version of yourself.
Ways to Take Action
1. Make To-Do Lists
One of the best ways to hold yourself accountable and keep yourself committed is by making to do lists that you know you’ll get done. One of the best ways to take action is to write down exactly what you will accomplish the next day that will get you closer to that goal.
Crossing off the little steps on your to-do list will make you feel very rewarded and productive, which will motivate you for the future. When you have a to-do list right in front of you with little things that are divided up that will all lead you to that end goal, you will feel like it is a much more manageable goal that you can achieve.
2. Daily Time Slot
Setting out a specific time each and every day to analyze what you need to do to get closer to your goals will force you to stick with it, even on days when you do not feel as motivated. When you set out this time, you will be extra productive because you can use this time to make to-do lists, analyze different ways that you can grow from various experiences throughout the day, and transform your mindset into a more focused one.
3. Define Success
One important way to take action on your goals is to define what success looks like to you. When you have this picture in your mind, you will feel very motivated to work towards it because the rewards seem more achievable.
This means defining a specific and clear vision that will keep you focused and allow you to better understand why you are completing each step along the way. When you have this process set in stone, everything will flow naturally, and you will not feel like you need to obsess over the outcomes of each step.
4. Make a Motivation List
Writing out the things that keep you motivated is extremely important when obstacles along the road occur. This will make you much less likely to give up on your goals and will keep you accountable.
