I feel like taking the plunge, but...

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Have you ever felt intimidated by even the simplest task? It can freeze you in place, drive you to procrastinate indefinitely, and eventually convince you that you're simply a procrastinator, a self-saboteur. This situation takes up a lot of space in your mind, generating anxiety. It's a bit like having too many programs open on your computer, consuming memory for no real purpose. These pending files, open but not active, slow down your machine and clog up your processor. In life, it's similar; these unfinished tasks drain our energy without bringing about any real change.

In discussions I've had with people, I've noticed that many express difficulties in taking action. To kick off this article, I'd like to ask you a preliminary question: what do you want to accomplish, or perhaps what should you be doing, but are hesitating to do? You may think you're not ready. Well, you're not alone. Many mistakenly believe, and I was one of them, that action requires a sense of preparation. However, let me let you in on a secret: chances are you'll never feel totally ready to take the plunge. What do you think that feeling would be like? How do you imagine being ready one day? What does it really mean to be ready? Do you think that confidence or readiness will suddenly arise one day? In reality, it doesn't happen that way. Postponing action until you feel ready is often a way of fooling yourself, because the fear is there, and it's only natural.

Fear of failure, reluctance to take the plunge, difficulty in moving forward: these are all reasons that can seize us and legitimize our apprehensions. I'm not arguing that fear should be outlawed, since it's an intrinsic part of our being. However, it is important to distinguish between fears that are based on reason and those that are not. Nowadays, most of our anxieties seem to be fuelled by justifications that are disconnected from reality, more akin to the irrational, even if they may sometimes be partly well-founded.

It's often difficult for us to accept our own fears. To hide them, we mask them behind excuses and wrap them in justifications. For example, when we say "I'm not ready", we convince ourselves that it's not the right time. So we convince ourselves that perhaps tomorrow, the following week, next month or even next year would be better. However, in reality, there is never a perfect time, unless we decide otherwise, unless we choose to start at a specific moment.

Once you finally decide to take action, there comes that moment when you're full of motivation. You scatter post-it notes all over the place, carefully recording your intentions. But at a certain point, you realize that you're caught in a never-ending circle of reflection. Now you're aware of all the barriers, whether tangible, exaggerated or even imaginary. It's perfectly natural to perceive these obstacles, because they're an integral part of our thinking. However, if you dwell only on these challenges, you risk locking yourself into a harmful cycle.

There's no denying it, we all encounter obstacles in our lives, and it's crucial to identify and accept them as part of the journey. Challenges are an integral part of our daily experience. However, it's also important to recognize that inaction can be just as challenging, if not more so. Standing still, stagnating in a situation without change, can be a source of intense frustration. We all feel that yearning for progress, that deep-seated need to see things evolve. However, this desire can also create internal conflicts, leading us to feel trapped between the desire for change and the fear of failure. If we focus exclusively on obstacles, we feed our own fears and paralyze ourselves. Inaction then becomes mental torture. To take action, it's essential to change our perspective. Rather than focusing our attention on the challenges, we should strive to spot the opportunities that lie ahead. By adopting a more realistic vision and remaining open to possibilities, we are better equipped to move forward in our lives.

Of course, challenges are inevitable, but they also present opportunities. Often, talking about obstacles gives us the impression that we're protecting ourselves. It's as if our minds perceive change as a threat, fueling our fears about taking initiative. However, what we fear most may not be as terrifying as we imagine. In fact, I encourage you to take action, to do something, no matter what, but above all not to stand still.

Motivation doesn't just appear out of the blue. On the contrary, action is both the consequence and the cause of motivation. If you think you lack motivation, just like the feeling of not being ready, it's unlikely that you'll wake up one morning with a sudden desire to change your attitude and say to yourself: "Ah, I'm incredibly motivated today". No, it doesn't work like that!!!

Sometimes you just have to jump in without thinking too much and see where it takes you. Even if it seems risky at first, as you move forward, you may find the motivation you need to keep going. And if it doesn't work out as planned, that's okay. You can always go back and try something else. The key is to embrace change, even if it can be daunting.

When you start taking action, you trigger a mental transformation. This state of mind is one of positivity and openness to change. This will bring about a beneficial evolution in the way your brain works, and I assure you you'll feel an immediate sense of well-being.

On the other hand, if you choose not to take action, to run away from difficult situations using all the excuses mentioned above, your brain will develop a gratification system specific to avoidance. In other words, it will tell you that "it's good to avoid challenges". It will release dopamine to tell you that your avoidance action is positive. So you associate avoidance with something beneficial. You remain in inaction and begin to perceive it as a positive outcome. Your brain interprets your avoidance as a way of escaping danger, and as a result, you're likely to repeat the behavior in the future, as it becomes automatic. Since your brain has been gratified by the dopamine, you will feel the desire to repeat the same action.

Taking action can make a real difference to your well-being. On the other hand, remaining passive leads to no improvement at all, and sometimes even to progressive deterioration. Individuals who have suffered trauma in childhood can be particularly affected by inaction, as avoidance, flabbergasting and lack of action become defense mechanisms, strategies that persist into adulthood, turning into maladaptive patterns over time. All this can lead to prolonged apathy, acting as a form of unconscious protection.

A key element in overcoming hardship and recovery is the ability to persevere, to keep moving forward on a development path, even when it seems arduous. Waiting for difficulties to dissipate on their own gets you nowhere. Taking action first requires a resolute decision on your part, a decision to go ahead despite apprehensions, because that's where courage comes in. I understand that it's not easy, but I also sense that your determination hasn't wavered yet. I sense that you have not yet given up hope.

Imagine yourself a few weeks, a few months, a few years from now. What do you hope to have achieved by then? On the other hand, if you choose to remain inactive, what do you imagine your life will be like in the same time frame? Thank you very much for reading, and see you soon.

My name is Redouane and I'm deeply committed to the awakening of consciousness, self-understanding and the quest for meaning in life. My commitment lies in accompanying those who aspire to shape an existence imbued with meaning, prosperity and well-being on both a spiritual and physical level.

@genesung