How can we avoid inaction?

You don’t need to look far to be reminded of the cost of inaction. 

As humans we seem to sit back and wait until it's too late. 

You only need to watch Attenborough documentaries over the years to see that as a race our inaction has caused irreversible damage that will impact generations to come. 

You can look at the reactive ways companies and governments seem to operate to realise that the status quo seems to be to act only when absolutely necessary, often when the damage is done and it's too late.

On a more individual basis the cost of inaction normally comes in the form of some sort of mid life crisis where people realise where they are is not aligned with what they truly wanted. 

Now don’t get me wrong, some of this will be down to someone chasing something they thought they wanted and arriving there to realise that actually it's not that fulfilling at all. In that instance we encourage you to keep the three pillars of a fulfilling life we focus on in the Evolve Journal to the front of mind (Freedom, Relationships and Health). I would argue though that most mid life crises can be attributed to inaction. 

What is the cost of inaction?

• The cost of inaction is the opportunity costs associated with doing nothing. 
• There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction. John F. Kennedy

No matter where you are right now you have the opportunity to make a change, to create action (the simple act of doing) that will correct your path. One change that could make a big difference is defining your mission, your overarching stretch goal that drives you forward.

We are often guilty of knowing what needs to be done but something holds us back from creating change or solving our problems so we can progress. Maybe this is fear of the unknown or the lies we tell ourselves that we are too busy or that it's too risky. For the most part we choose (often unconsciously) to do nothing.

If you ask yourself the question now… Could I be doing more?

Overcoming inaction

Apply this to your relationships, your friends, your family. Apply it to your professional aspirations, could you be doing more?

What about your health, could you be doing more? Now I am not a betting man but if I were I would wager that when you asked yourselves those questions you felt there was room for you to do more in all of those areas. 

If you think you could be doing more now is the time to start. Don’t confuse this for sprinting into everything head first without proper thought and planning, I certainly wouldn’t recommend quitting your 9-5 to start a Food Van without proper planning and preparation. 

This planning and future proofing is action in itself, remember just don’t forget to follow them through to the end.

Breakthrough and change doesn’t happen on its own, you have to shoot to score. 

And what’s the easiest way to be in it so you have a chance to see the results you are after? 

To sit up and take action, to give everything.

Reflect regularly and be honest with yourself, you will know when you’ve given everything. And remember as Tony Robbins says ‘The only impossible journey is the one you never begin’. 

What can you do today to move you closer to the results you want?

Below is a list published in a Medium.com Blog entitled - How Taking Action Creates Success

• Choose the right tool to write and monitor your goals.
• Do something today and take action immediately!
• Don’t get stalled by negative feelings of ‘fear’ or ‘what ifs’
• Don’t worry if your idea is not 100% perfect — it never will be. Plus you can finesse it as you go.
• Remember to be open to different outcomes & to relax and enjoy the productivity of ‘DOING SOMETHING’!
• Learn from your choices. Even if you don’t get the result you want, you can learn from your experience.