You know the feeling.
There's something you want to do. You've thought about it, you've made your decision, and now it's time to act.
Except... you don't.
You want to take the next step, but "something" stops you. Do you know what that "something" is?
It's all down to our ancient ancestors...
Backtrack 100,000 years ago when we all lived in caves and ferocious animals lurked nearby.
Decision making in those days was literally a matter of life and death. If you took a wrong turn, or made yourself too visible, you would attract predators who would eat you for dinner. You and the entire group.
Whatever action you took, you had to be 100% certain before taking it. One mistake meant death.
Fast forward to today.
100,000 years on, and the human brain has evolved into a marvel of sophisticated intelligence. Unfortunately, it still contains the primitive thinking layer used by our ancestors.
And there lies the problem.
Because even today, we still have this overriding need for the elusive quality that enabled our primitive forebears to survive:
Certainty.
And so although the decisions we face nowadays are seldom a matter of life and death, they can often feel that way thanks to our genetic inheritance.
That's why the first step is always the hardest to take.
Anytime you decide to do something new, you are stepping outside "the cave of the familiar" into unknown territory where you are likely to experience some form of fear.
And this sense of discomfort is so strong, you'll do anything to avoid it.
Typical tricks include avoidance, delay, or "over- thinking"...
"Over-thinking" is when you continue to think about making a decision, long after you've actually decided! What you're really doing is creating a safe mental environment for yourself. By constantly thinking about something, it becomes familiar, and so you start to feel comfortable around it.
The problem with "over-thinking" is that it doesn't move you forward one tiny bit, and only results in wasted time and lost opportunities.
Ultimately, a decision is not a decision until it's acted upon. Until that point, it remains a dream.
Here's how to ease yourself out of procrastination and into action using what I call the "triple A" method...
Accept -> Ask -> Act
Step #1 - Accept
Accept uncertainty is a part of life.
Just by doing this, you'll become aware of your feelings surrounding a decision and put them into perspective by relating them to your own primeval craving for certainty.
Realize that even with the best analysis, careful planning, and due diligence, the outcome can never really be known in advance and there comes a time when you've got to take the risk and move forward.
Step #2 - Ask
Ask yourself: "What's the worst that can happen here?"
Look at the worst case scenario, and ask yourself what you'd really lose from it. Most often, it's a lot less than you might have feared.
And what can you do if the worst scenario was to materialize? Could you backtrack? Change direction? Start again? Few things are ever truly final.
Usually you'll find you've got nothing to worry about.
Step #3 - Act
Finally, act. Just do it. Take the next step.
Making a decision and acting on it is enormously liberating.
You get a sudden burst of momentum as you cast off the shackles of procrastination and finally move forward towards your goal.
The old maxim "If in doubt, leave it out" is essential advice when driving or engaging in other hazardous activities.
For most decisions in life, though, you can afford to take a little risk and start living.
The next time you feel stuck, use the 'AAA' technique to help you move forward.
Accept. Ask. Act.
'7 Steps To Mental Mastery' -- Learn how to think faster, read quicker, concentrate deeper, solve any problem and achieve anything you want. Get started immediately: http://7StepsToMentalMastery.com
About The Author
Murdo Macleod is the creator of the popular course: '7 Steps To Mental Mastery'.
http://7StepsToMentalMastery.com
Perseverance is about as important to achievement as gasoline is... Read More
For years, many of us heard the phrase "Knowledge is... Read More
For the first time in many years, Star Trek Fans... Read More
Against all odds. I think that should be the motto... Read More
As the story goes, a single college-age guy went to... Read More
So I wanted to buy a car. It was a... Read More
Whenever you feel lethargic and depressed by your situation in... Read More
Goals stalled? Always running behind? Stuck in a rut?Procrastination means... Read More
I am sure you, just like the rest of us,... Read More
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in... Read More
Have you ever read something like this as a "way... Read More
When was the last time you truly relaxed? Do you... Read More
It's so difficult to go on when everything seems to... Read More
What stops you from 'getting things done?'Have you ever started... Read More
When I meet people and tell them what I do,... Read More
I watched as an 8-year-old All-Star slid dramatically into second... Read More
Have you ever wondered what's really holding you back from... Read More
Over the years in America and the west generally, the... Read More
Destiny. What a powerful word. And the great thing about... Read More
Be careful what you believe because that is what you... Read More
Well....., I got some good news and I got some... Read More
We all gravitate toward what we feel most comfortable doing.... Read More
In a world where dynamism alters egos and principles in... Read More
Inside of every one of us is the desire to... Read More
I've been meaning to write this column, but I keep... Read More
We must all suffer one of two things: the pain... Read More
King Solomon said "As a man thinketh in his heart... Read More
Stopping procrastination can be challenging, especially since you can't put... Read More
What are the reasons that YOU procrastinate?Are you a perfectionist?Do... Read More
Do you want to know your poverty graph? You are... Read More
The natural cycle of life is to grow and move... Read More
Making money is easy when you move to cause rather... Read More
(excerpted from the Take Charge of Your Life 6 CD... Read More
How many times have you been faced with a decision... Read More
When people begin to investigate career change, often they don't... Read More
For some people this article will turn out to be... Read More
Where have you come from this past year? What have... Read More
Studies have shown that on average an optimist will have... Read More
Here's an interesting story from the world of race car... Read More
Elizabeth Kubler Ross once said, "People are like stained glass... Read More
Personal time or relax time is often why people want... Read More
Are You a "Right-Fighter"?Do you find yourself struggling to "win"... Read More
Would you like to feel and function like age 40... Read More
'Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of... Read More
If a total stranger came up to you and said:... Read More
"Life is a Tiger-ride, by no means easy, but ride... Read More
Just about everybody owns or has owned a bucket of... Read More
In 2004 a group of seven spoilt and often aggressive... Read More
As best I can tell hereā??s how it breaks down.Some... Read More
Someone once pointed out to me that in many of... Read More
Ah, those New Year's resolutions.I suppose that the passage of... Read More
"Things is either done, or they ain't done." Marlon SandersSome... Read More
The darkness of Winter has descended.For many the long stormy... Read More
Have you ever read something like this as a "way... Read More
One fact stubbornly stays true: while everyone desires to succeed,... Read More
If you want to be a winner you have to... Read More
How often have we heard ourselves complaining about how unlucky... Read More
Transformational Counseling is all about assisting another human being to... Read More
No matter how hard you try to make them otherwise,... Read More
Lasting motivation is possible once you adopt an outlook that... Read More
We all gravitate toward what we feel most comfortable doing.... Read More
We typically think of New Year's as the time to... Read More
Are you putting off your dreams until you have money?... Read More
The motivation for good or bad which we get from... Read More
Inertia. Even the word sounds like a disease. No, it... Read More
--Choose a motivational quote related to your goal. Don't have... Read More
Motivation |