While reading a book a few weeks ago, I saw something very basic to the entire topic of self improvement. I understood so much more clearly why even though I have deep knowledge of this material, I have not been able to produce the results I desired in my life until now.
For years my focus has been on learning and understanding material; not their twin sister - application. I have spent hours and hours on my bed reading, studying and taking notes on these topics. Those hours moved me light years ahead mentally but they did nothing until now for my physical, daily world. I have been so intent on getting my mind wrapped around these concepts that I failed to pay attention to the most crucial aspect of this process = personal action.
Throughout "Think and Grow Rich" Napoleon Hill gives his readers many action steps to complete and several daily tasks to perform. I always thought "I will read the entire book and then go back and DO what he suggests." This was a HUGE mistake. Even if I was not in the right position, those action steps would have moved me closer to my dreams and would have begun the process of building up my self-esteem, self-confidence and my level of awareness of my innate ability to handle my big life goals. And, I incrementally would have been moving closer to what I desired, even if it was only a little bit at a time. I have since become an active student of the application of these concepts. It is only through action that I prepare the way and the method by which I can receive what I want in my life.
Please stop just reading about improving yourself and really think about whether you need to become an "active" student of "application" in your life. You learn the methods or the "certain way" only by doing, not by studying. Studying allows you to understand the process but to learn and internalize material you must act on all things that Napoleon Hill, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor, Wallace Wattles and all the other personal growth authors tell you to do.
"Take the first step in faith and the rest will be revealed to you." Wallace Wattles. Take is a verb. A verb requires action. Recently I came up with an idea to help law students. I did not have the product finished or know all the details of what I wanted to include in my product. I did not know the distribution method or how I would advertise the product. But, I took action. I called my mentor and booked an appointment with her to talk about my idea. As the month ticked down I worked on my presentation, read some more material and got more ideas.
When I finally went in to talk to her in person she loved my idea. I only showed her a short snapshot of the project and she ended up booking me to teach to over 70 students in a month and a half. All of this happened because I did not wait until everything was "perfect," "complete," "just right" or "totally finished." I acted on my idea and my idea produced results. As I continue to take action on this project the next steps and new ideas keep coming to me. The project gets better and better and will help many people in the near future.
You can do this too. Stop waiting for the time to be right and just start moving on your ideas. Without action steps taken nothing will happen. You will continue to stack up self-improvement books and seminar tickets and you will blame the books and speakers for not helping you. They are helping you; they are giving you the tools you need to move forward. Since they are not there to hold your hand when you act, you have to do it on your own. Remember small steps add up to big results. Last year I climbed Half Dome in Yosemite and I did it one step at a time. Sometimes it was hard, and sometimes it was fairly easy, but every step was important because it moved me closer to my goal.
I know this may seem very simple but taking action is crucial to your progress and can delay or completely block your efforts if you do not pay attention to making things happen instead of just thinking about things happening. Like yin and yang: learning and application go are required to make the other function.
For years my focus has been on learning and understanding material; not their twin sister - application. I have spent hours and hours on my bed reading, studying and taking notes on these topics. Those hours moved me light years ahead mentally but they did nothing until now for my physical, daily world. I have been so intent on getting my mind wrapped around these concepts that I failed to pay attention to the most crucial aspect of this process = personal action.
Throughout "Think and Grow Rich" Napoleon Hill gives his readers many action steps to complete and several daily tasks to perform. I always thought "I will read the entire book and then go back and DO what he suggests." This was a HUGE mistake. Even if I was not in the right position, those action steps would have moved me closer to my dreams and would have begun the process of building up my self-esteem, self-confidence and my level of awareness of my innate ability to handle my big life goals. And, I incrementally would have been moving closer to what I desired, even if it was only a little bit at a time. I have since become an active student of the application of these concepts. It is only through action that I prepare the way and the method by which I can receive what I want in my life.
Please stop just reading about improving yourself and really think about whether you need to become an "active" student of "application" in your life. You learn the methods or the "certain way" only by doing, not by studying. Studying allows you to understand the process but to learn and internalize material you must act on all things that Napoleon Hill, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor, Wallace Wattles and all the other personal growth authors tell you to do.
"Take the first step in faith and the rest will be revealed to you." Wallace Wattles. Take is a verb. A verb requires action. Recently I came up with an idea to help law students. I did not have the product finished or know all the details of what I wanted to include in my product. I did not know the distribution method or how I would advertise the product. But, I took action. I called my mentor and booked an appointment with her to talk about my idea. As the month ticked down I worked on my presentation, read some more material and got more ideas.
When I finally went in to talk to her in person she loved my idea. I only showed her a short snapshot of the project and she ended up booking me to teach to over 70 students in a month and a half. All of this happened because I did not wait until everything was "perfect," "complete," "just right" or "totally finished." I acted on my idea and my idea produced results. As I continue to take action on this project the next steps and new ideas keep coming to me. The project gets better and better and will help many people in the near future.
You can do this too. Stop waiting for the time to be right and just start moving on your ideas. Without action steps taken nothing will happen. You will continue to stack up self-improvement books and seminar tickets and you will blame the books and speakers for not helping you. They are helping you; they are giving you the tools you need to move forward. Since they are not there to hold your hand when you act, you have to do it on your own. Remember small steps add up to big results. Last year I climbed Half Dome in Yosemite and I did it one step at a time. Sometimes it was hard, and sometimes it was fairly easy, but every step was important because it moved me closer to my goal.
I know this may seem very simple but taking action is crucial to your progress and can delay or completely block your efforts if you do not pay attention to making things happen instead of just thinking about things happening. Like yin and yang: learning and application go are required to make the other function.
About the Author:
When you change your habits, actions and attitudes, your whole life will change. Set aside a several minutes each day to work on your goals. Click on http://www.GlobalSuccessILG.com to learn about how to increase your income and create wealth in your life. This site covers topics from leadership, to tax strategies, to growing your business and many more. Christina Helwig is an attorney and Vice-President of Wealth Expressions, Inc.
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