TACKLE THE ONE THING YOU ARE AVOIDING WITH THIS SIMPLE TOOL

We welcome March this week and the final stretch of the first quarter of 2023.  March feels like a good time to evaluate where we feel stuck, might be holding back, and/or not taking action.  New month, new opportunity!

 

Maybe you're not taking action because it’s something new or a little scary and uncomfortable so you’re waiting until you “have more time to tackle it” or, maybe it doesn’t need to be done (it’s not on fire) so it’s easy to avoid by staying busy with all the other things pulling on your attention.   Here’s the truth, where we aren’t taking action we will usually find an emotion blocking us–so we decide to avoid instead.

 

What’s the one thing taking permanent residence in your mind, on your calendar or to-do list each week?  What would be possible on the other side of you taking action on this one thing?  This week, I invite you to join me in doing something different using the strategy of opposite action.  First, get face to face with your one thing and STOP.  Stay with it for a quick moment, before getting distracted with something else.  Ask yourself, what’s my urge here?  Notice what it is and where you feel it in your body.  Then ask, what’s the opposite urge action?  This next move is really quick.  Take the opposite action all the away, count 3-2-1 and make the call, initiate the conversation, put on the shoes and go.  Whatever your one thing is, decide to respond with opposite action.

 

Is it really this simple?  Yes-ish.  Opposite action is the antithesis to avoidance.  It is both easy and hard to do.  And, what if your action becomes the lever, the game changing growth move that shifts everything else for you moving forward?  

I was celebrating with a client this week, a hard thing she use to resist and struggle with but now does with ease and flow.  From the wise words of my client as we were reflecting on her learnings, when you feel stuck or scared to do the thing, do it anyways.  Try not to think, interrupt the pattern.  What action will you take this week?  As always, stay open, brave, and on-purpose.