On The Actions We Take Each Day
The end of each year is primetime for content about dreams and goals and new-year-new-you mantras. And while I’m a superfan of getting clear on dreams and aspirations, no dream was ever accomplished without countless, ongoing, tiny actions that add up to the whole. So, while your inbox is filled with grand New Year’s resolution content, I thought I’d consider the flip side and go small.
Historically, I’ve had a difficult relationship with the small steps. My brain tends towards dreamy ideals and big ideas… the kind of thinking that usually makes them grow even loftier. As a result, I’ve often struggled when it comes to the doing. I would get overwhelmed with how big it seemed, how hard it’d be to accomplish, and whether I should even try. I’ve gotten things done, but it was not pretty behind the scenes.
(That’s how an idea from 2015… this baby you’ve let into your inbox 🙏... takes four years to come to life.)
In starting this, I’ve had to break down the dreams into smaller goals, then those into manageable projects, then those into actionable daily to dos. I’ve also had to start adjusting ingrained habits that got in the way of where I want to be and managing my mindset when self-doubt and other negative thoughts creep in. If you've mastered all this., cheers!
Compared to how much others got done, I used to think I was lacking in inspiration or motivation or willpower. But I’ve realized those are usually limited in supply and inconsistent in delivery, which makes them unreliable sources of action fuel. What's worked for me is having a clear plan that I can reference and execute when I get stressed out.
In the most stripped down basic terms, there’s simply work to be done and we either do it or we don’t.
Calling it all “work” is broad so, for the sake of clarity I’ll list out the components parts:
The dream. (Why do we want this and what does it tangibly look like?)
The plan to achieve the dream. (How will we bring this to life?)
The person that will execute the plan to achieve the dream. (Who do we need to be to get everything done?)
What happens on the daily* is us defining and seeing all of this through. If we want more adventure, love, money, joy, prestige, health, me time, impact, etc. what are the small things that need to happen to our habits, mindsets, routines, and to do lists so we get closer to what we want?
Every 24 hours is another baby step that carries us through this life, whether we choose to take it or not. And while December 31 is a natural time to think about what we’re doing with our time here, hit reset, and start fresh (though any day is a good day for that), the only thing that ultimately matters is the follow through each day after.
Thanks so much for reading. Happy New Year, y’all!
Pam
*Figuratively. It’s ok to take days off to rest, chill, recharge. Though I’d make the case, that’s all part of getting you there. :)
