Take Action. Good Feelings Follow.

I found myself sitting in front of my computer for far too long, trying to think of the right message to write for this month's blog post. I thought about something funny that happened over the weekend.  But when I began typing, the words didn’t seem that funny at all. 

I erased the sentence and kept sitting there.  

I then recalled a story about an advisor who’s going through something personally challenging right now. Maybe his story would be one that my readers could relate to? I started typing but couldn’t get the words right. I was overthinking. And frustrated. 

I decided I’d be more focused after a snack. I got up from my desk, ate a handful of pretzels, added some peanut butter for energy, and felt like this could be the boost I was looking for.  

It wasn’t.  

I stared at my screen and waited for inspiration, magic—any idea to pop into my head so I could write a story that would be meaningful. But nothing felt compelling or inspiring enough to write about.

I was stuck. 

That’s when it hit me: I’m doing that thing I coach others not to do: I was waiting for the inspiration, the motivation, the “magic” instead of simply taking action.

Sure, I had writer’s block. But one way to overcome writer’s block is to, well, write. I knew logically that if I just typed whatever came to mind, I would eventually find the words I had been searching for.  

Can you relate? We often wait for inspiration first before we take action. I had a friend tell me recently that she is frustrated with how sedentary she has become. I suggested she go back to the gym. She said she plans to. She’s just waiting for motivation, and then she said she would definitely do that. How long will she wait—on her couch, not moving, not sweating—for the motivation to suddenly take action?  

I hear all the time from advisors: I don't feel like phoning. I don't feel like asking for referrals. What if you made your feelings irrelevant in that moment, and just picked up the phone?

Stop waiting for inspiration. Do something. And trust that your feelings will follow.

Have you ever dragged yourself to the gym—totally unmotivated—finished a 45 minute workout, and left with pep in your step and new-found mojo?  Act first. Good feelings follow. 

Years ago, my partner Kim was invited by a close friend to participate in the Pan Mass Challenge. This is a very long 200 mile bike ride that stretches across Massachusetts and finishes all the way out in Provincetown, Cape Cod. Kim said yes to the invitation. At the time she wasn’t much of a bike rider. She certainly had never ridden that many miles and—wait for it—she didn’t even own a bike!

But she said yes anyway.

For those of you unfamiliar with the Pan Mass Challenge, it has raised tens of millions of dollars for Dana Farber cancer research. Here's what I really love: their motto is, “Commit. You’ll figure it out.”

And that’s what Kim did. She said yes despite her nervousness and doubts and other uncertain feelings. She figured it out. In fact, she completed it four years in a row and personally raised $20k for cancer research. Each time she did it, it was physically challenging and took months of preparation.

It didn’t feel good to train.

It definitely didn't feel good to ride 200+ miles on an uncomfortable seat, especially in the August heat. 

But it sure felt great once she crossed the finish line and realized the magnitude of what she had accomplished!

Take action. Good feelings follow.

Where are you stuck? What if, despite your feelings or lack of motivation, you instead got into action?

Commit. You too will figure it out.