There is always such a big deal being made about taking action -- any sort of action will do the job. People say to stop being lazy and stop procrastinating.
Quite frankly, all this talk about constant, automatic action drives me crazy because I feel it puts so many people on the wrong path. Telling people that as long as they are taking some sort of action that they can expect a certain result is misleading and leads to disappointment, among other things that make us feel horrible. Pointless action makes us spin our wheels and get absolutely nowhere.
Action is an important factor in getting things done and growing as a person, don't get me wrong. But it has to be the right type of action. Flailing your arms around for no good reason only makes you look and feel like a fool. Sure, you were taking action, but you were doing nothing except going through the motions. You're better off waiting to determine the right type of action instead of trying to "just do whatever."
Photo source: pixabay.com
The worst implication that I've seen that this "action for the sake of action" movement has is that it pushes people from one end of the spectrum to another -- that is, to where they eventually take no action at all; they become chronically paralyzed and disillusioned with life. Their mindset is that they took action before and it didn't work, so why bother? Failing to take any action at all forces people to resort to living life by default, which means that other people make decisions and take action for them. Like "bad" action, chronic lack of action is a sea of frustration and disappointment. Later is better than never.
Going from one extreme to another rarely fixes anything.
What does the right type of action even mean?
What a weird statement for me to make, right? Action is action is action, right? There is not right or wrong when it comes to action, right?
I am of the belief that there are two types of action:
1. externally motivated/forced urgency type of action
and
2. internally inspired action
Even if externally motivated/forced urgency action lights a fire under your butt and gives you short-term (usually fear-based) results, it's never lasting and it's never genuine. This type of action is not intrinsic and it doesn't make you happy.
Photo source: pixabay.com
This is why getting motivated or guilted into going to the gym rarely turns into a long-term, joyous habit. You end up resenting the gym because you never went for the right reasons in the first place. For example, maybe you went for the health benefits, but that wasn't the main reason. Perhaps the main reason was so that you can impress other people.
Inspired action is where it's at. When you've found your inspriation, you've found your life source. If you can't find a source of inspiration for what it is you need to do, you're better off waiting until you can find it. Inspiration makes action less like a chore and more like a pleasurable creation that flows from you effortlessly. No one has to tell you to do anything because you're already doing it. You never feel guilty or lazy because you're too busy making a difference in your world and in that of others.
Photo source: pixabay.com
Life doesn't have to be so hard. And yes, you can still have everything you want and need, so long as you live a life of inspired action.
Don't do things for others; do them for you. By default, the action done for yourself will also be in the best interest of others. After all, this life has a mysterious way of working out.
Photo source: pixabay.com
I'm pretty sure that taking action is a perfectly good thing to do. For me the phrase has always meant to focus my mind on something. 'Taking action' means figuring out what it is you need to do to solve the situation you are in. In life we take many actions, but seldom do we do so actively. For instance, if I'm browsing through youtube, I often do it quite passively, not paying particular attention to whats going on in the video and not paying particular attention to myself. To take action means to stop being passive about your problems and actively try to solve them.
To the second part of your post:
I think many people, especially on this website, would love to live a life based purely on inspired action, problem is, society still exists and it has certain rules and regulations. I have to make money in order to buy groceries, I have to restrain myself to a certain degree in public so that nobody calls the police on me. I have to make sure I'm registered and my files are in line and my taxes paid.
Even from a biological standpoint, I am forced to eat, sleep and drink. (altough this is arguiably inspired action as it does arise from within)
Yes you might say I don't have to do these thing, but the alternative requires more effort from me. It's less effort to dress reasonably than it is to walk outside naked. It's less effort to make money than it is to build a house and keep a farm.
There is a certain achievable balance between 'what I must do' and 'what I feel like doing" and I feel leaning heavily in either direction holds you back.
Also it's ok to not be happy, life will naturally have ups and downs and I'm still not convinced that emotions are in anyway concioussly controlled. I think the best you can do is to be content, because if I was happy all the time then I would have no way to differentiate between states and I would then no longer be happy.
This is a great comment. A backbone of gratefulness and contentment about what you have and where you are makes life so much sweeter.
What a great comment! Thank you for your thoughts.
I'd say it shorter:
two types - "you have to" and "you want to"
The more "I want to" actions you do, the happier you are.
As Chekhov said, brevity is the sister of talent (his actual words) (english equivalent - brevity is the soul of wit)
I'd say, brevity - sis
(english variant - brevity - soul)
=)
I'm a woman; I don't do brevity.
That's exactly what is needed for the world economy to actually work the way it works now. That's called Samsara and that might be the only wheel that they're spinning =)
I'm happy to see you trying to figure things out.
If you have time, read this once again. Maybe you'll find some different meaning to what you've thought I wrote about
https://steemit.com/life/@stuffy/cheating-on-karma
But I'll warn you once again, do not forget to check every single piece of knowledge as if it's gold that you're buying
this guy approves your inner monologue
It's about time that someone does. I was beginning to think I should move to a deserted island. :)
oh, come on! you'll get bored there in few days! =)
go out somewhere in the forest, sit there for an hour nad tadaaaa! you've been on a deserted island!
then go back to the benefits, provided by civilization. To steemit, for example =)
What forest? I live in L.A. Also, I'd need much longer than an hour. Honestly, I think I'd be ok with the island...
go grow one! =)
I had same thoughts once, so I went to this island https://goo.gl/maps/p3uWeN3FAJ62
got bored in a week.
P.S: View from Gunung Raya is just breathtaking. They have a hotel there with the viewing tower. Rooms are a bit costy, but going up costs like 3-5$ and you get free coffee or tea upthere.
One of the best places to have breakfast at
$3-5 per night for a hotel room? Is it crappy coffee and tea? Smelly rooms? Uncomfortable beds? No beds at all? What's the catch? :D
Going up the viewing tower costs 3-5$ =)
I'm not really sure, but i think, the cheapest room was around 1,2k per night.
Is it me, "engrish no spaek" or you being a bad reader? :)
This post is a hidden gem! I agree that action must be taken with a strategy in mind, and I also agree with some of the comments posted.
As Novili said, sometimes you have to take action that you have to do but not action you necessarily want to do.
Example) Taking out the trash or driving kids to school. You don't want to do it, but by taking action, confronting it, and being Content and Grateful (as Novili mentioned) you can make the best out of any action you take!
At the same time, it's important to be taking actions that you actively choose and want to do.
Oh yes, I very much agree with @novili too. Things are never strictly black and white, even if my post made it seem like I think so. Life is complicated.
Nothing harder than sitting still and waiting.
Thank you for sharing. Hope you will get a positive day, good luck and wish you success.
I have resteem and upvoted this post.
Best Regards
With Respect From Banjarmasin, South Borneo / Kalimantan, Indonesia
@azmielbanjary
Congratulations @cali-girl! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP