Was there ever a time in your life where you took action and it changed the course of your life? Action is the step that takes us closer to our goals, changes the direction of our lives, and makes dreams come true.
Action, alone, is the tinder which ignites the map, the parchment,
this scroll, my dreams, my plans, my goals, into a living force.
Action is the food and drink which nourish my success.
~ Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman in the World
Daily Consistent Action
It’s not the leap that gets you to the finish line of a marathon or even a 5k. It’s the small action of signing up for the race. You don’t sit down and write a manuscript in one day, it’s the daily action of writing, even if only 15 minutes or 5 pages at a time, that creates a book. It’s not one large action that makes a dream come true, it’s the millions of small actions and decisions along the way that get it started.
“That’s what it takes to get what you want. Not big scary leaps once a year.
It takes small, but irritating moves every single day.”
― Mel Robbins
It’s the decision made in a split second that starts the forward motion and begins the habit of action. It tells your mind you are serious. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or haven’t done or procrastinated in the past. One small action will begin to reprogram your brain and rebuild the blueprint that will move you forward toward the success you seek.
Closing in on Goals
This is especially true with our health and fitness goals. You can have a goal to lose weight, run a 5k or get in the best shape of your life but until you take action, it’s only a wish.
Simple actions can get you started:
- Sign up for yoga or a spin class
- Register for a local 5k race
- Call a friend to set a DateRide, DateRun or DateWalk. #GlobalRunningDay.
- Create a healthy grocery list
- Contact a personal trainer, nutritionist or health coach
Any of these small steps put you in action. They start the momentum moving forward, closer to your goals. For me, a big part of reaching my health goals involves the buddy system. I set weekly appointments with
- Susan for our upper body strength workouts
- Jim for our DateRides
- Deborah, Lydia, Susan, and Jim for squats and deadlifts
Success loves company and in honor of #BestFriendsDay, enlist the help of a friend. The accountability will lead you to your next action steps. It is these small action steps that will lead you to accomplish your goal.
Changing the Course of Your Life
Many years ago, I was in a relationship where my partner was angry, controlling, and did not treat me very well. Rant sessions were a daily occurrence where he yelled, screamed and complained about everything wrong in his life and I was expected to just listen and commiserate. God forbid I look on the bright side or offer a solution. It was safer to simply stay quiet. One particular evening, I found myself tuning out and five seconds of action changed the course of my life. He looked at me and screamed, “you’re not even listening, you don’t care.” To which I calmly replied “You’re right. I am done.”
Five words that would put me in action and leave a relationship that was hurting and suppressing me. Five words, five seconds that made a solid decision in my brain. That small action put me in motion and changed the direction of my life.
Since then I have become a cyclist, body builder, and writer. I fell in love with a man that respects and adores me and we are building a life of our dreams. A life that wouldn’t have happened had it not been for those few seconds of action.
Dreams Come True
Just last week, I took another action: I hired an editor for my first book about surgical menopause. It is part memoir and part self-help about my experience with hysterectomy and oophorectomy and my journey back to joy. I’m scared to death and at the same time, super excited. I don’t know if I’m going to throw up or wet my pants!
From this small step, my editor and I set a date to finish writing, the time frame for editing, and a plan to publish. I’ll have my first book out in the Fall of 2017.
Dreams come true when we take action.
Your Turn
Where are you at today? What goals do you have? Does your life require a change in direction? Are your dreams coming closer or further away?
What small step can you take today toward achievement? Please comment below. I’d love to hear what actions you’re taking!
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