Pick One and Look at the Rest
Jul 27th, 2008 | By Suzanne | Category: Taking Action | |
Sometimes you find yourself stuck, not knowing what to do next or which way to go. You can analyze and research, play ‘what if’ until you’re blue in the face, but sometimes the answer just doesn’t come. So what do you do? How do you decide?
As my dad has always told me, “Just pick one and look at the rest.”
At first glance, this might appear to be merely the advice of an exasperated dad, but the more frequently I’ve followed this advice, the more value I find in it.
Sometimes the only thing required to get unstuck is action, any action. Not everything about our world is linear. Not everything can be traced back to a logical cause and effect. Sometimes, all we need to find our answer is to step - in any direction - off of dead center. Movement is the antidote to being stuck. Action is the answer, more often than not.
Where I believe we get hung up is in our requirement to ‘get it right the first time’. When you think about it, doesn’t that seem an inordinately ridiculous goal? Doesn’t it just suck the wind right out of your sails to think about having to do something ‘right’ in order to do it at all? Is it any wonder, then, that we can feel so stuck?
Will the world stop spinning if you make a mistake? Will the sky come crashing down if you don’t do it ‘right’ the first time? Better yet - what if the action you take, the one that doesn’t really ever pan out, is the action that was required to get you to the next decision - the one that REALLY makes a difference in your life? Doesn’t it make sense then, when all of the available choices appear to be equally insufficient, to pick one and look at the rest to get unstuck?
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed! You can also email this post to a friend, or print a printer-friendly version of it using the links below the title above. Thank you for reading, and I hope you leave a comment below!
See Also:
- Don’t Put the Time Management Cart Before the Horse
- We Are What We Do
- How to Avoid Spinning Your Wheels
- Let Me Introduce You to ‘Cleaning Jail’
- You May Have Made Your Bed, But You Can Always Make A New One
Subscribe via Email
July 28th, 2008 8:43 am :
Great advice! I’m going to try it esp. since sometimes I miss out on so much because I want to do it right the first time!
xoxo
Yasmins last blog post..Out of Your League? Think Again
July 28th, 2008 3:11 pm :
You’ve got it. Any movement works because it changes our perspective. Standing pat does squat. Once we take an action, any action we can see openings that we couldn’t see previously. From there we adjust if need be and keep the momentum flowing.
August 1st, 2008 1:24 pm :
Wow what a great post! I love the way you put this. The one I use that’s similar is “the stake in the ground” theory — just plunk yourself in the middle of whatever it is you’re working on and get oriented in time/space, then decide which direction looks most attractive and see what happens when you take a step in that direction.
It seems that making a choice is also an action.
And action/movement is indeed a powerful force. You can’t get anywhere without it
Thanks for reminding us..
Nancys last blog post..The Chakra Series
August 1st, 2008 2:06 pm :
This is just what I needed on a Friday afternoon as I’m trying to get through a really important task before a long weekend. I’ve been putting this particular project off because of it’s huge scope and impact, but it is becoming increasingly important. Thanks.
August 18th, 2008 5:56 am :
Wow! Amazing, you have reminded us various things. And I really liked the mode of description.
Thank u.
Angelas last blog post..Clarksville, Tennessee
August 21st, 2008 2:26 pm :
Procrastination is always a problem for me. Sometimes the simplest advice is often the best advice. Thank you for your well thought out advice on getting going, and I look forward to reading more.