"You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind." Irish Proverb
At the end of the year, I like to think about what is pushing its way to the forefront of my mind--what is trying to get my attention? What is the next year going to be about? Last year it was about being BRAVE. I wrote a post on it, and I remember that the words flowed out with such ease. I realized that I had done some BRAVE things, and that there were many, many more opportunities to build that muscle. I'm still building that muscle, maybe I always will be. This year the words aren't exactly flowing out with the same ease, but there is definitely some pushy concept making its way to the front of the line...
I tend to be a thinker (which is an understatement for anyone who knows me). I can mull, and pull apart thoughts and ideas, and stall decisions like a boss. I am not knocking thinking--I like this about myself. However, if I'm going to be BRAVE and speak honestly, I know that sometimes I think to avoid BRAVELY taking ACTION. To avoid making a move. Any move. And that's what was making itself known--ACTION. I almost don't even want to say it out loud, but this year is about ACTING on stuff.
The past year turned life on its' ear for everyone--me included. March 16th I walked out of my office with a secure job that was in the process of morphing and changing into something new, and more. Turns out, I would only go back into that office one more time: to clean up my work, to clean out my desk, and prepare for an extended furlough. Now that furlough is done, the position has been eliminated, and I'm standing on the edge of a New Year with an armful of ideas and a wide open space to try them out. It doesn't require any more thinking, really. What I need to do every day is as clear and bold and straightforward as it can be: get out of bed, turn around and make that bed, and then ACT.
The founder of Spartan Race, Joe De Sena, has a philosophy for implementing ideas: Fire, Aim, Ready.
The thing about this kind of philosophy is that you have to know yourself and you have to know your situation. This could be a very dumb approach. It can also be very smart. For me, a thinker, who has to make her way, now, in a new world, and who spent her furlough sorting and weaning and whittling down ideas: it's about FIRING off those ideas. It's about Getting After It. It's about Go Big or Go Home. There isn't anything to really even AIM at--it's all open space out there. All those ideas are going to land, and the ones that land on their feet are the ones that will take off. And READY? Whatever! The time is now, like it or not.
As the Irish Proverb says: "You'll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind."
Okay then, here I go! ACTION it is.