500 Words a Week - Action is the Antidote
On our honeymoon, my wife and I bought a beautiful Moroccan rug. Looking down upon it, we see intricacies of colours and patterns. Yet, underneath is a mesh of various rough threads.
I think this is a metaphor for how so many of us live our lives. We are keenly aware of our own rough threads, yet unable to see the wonderful colours and patterns others notice when they look at us.
Combined with a bit of man flu, the past week has been one when I’ve felt distinctly aware of all the areas where I’m falling a little short, of all my rough threads. Like any business, there are ups and downs, this week, I’ve felt the downs more. Training could be sharper, and general life admin could use some more attention. Our mind has this remarkable ability to add layers of angst to our worries. In these low moments, a highlight reel of our mistakes and regrets begins to play. We dwell on missed opportunities or ones we didn’t fully grasp.
I’ve read countless self-development books, I know what to do in these situations. We need to pause. We need to create a space to interpret what these emotions are trying to tell us. Without further judging ourselves for what we are experiencing or feeling. But knowing and doing are two very different things.
This is why I struggle with the concept of affirmations and visualisations. If we simply try to imagine ourselves in a happier, more confident state, we often become more aware of how unhappy or unconfident we currently feel. Instead of bridging the gap, these techniques can sometimes widen it, making where we want to be feel even more distant.
Instead of living in the world of daydreams, we must focus upon the present. To create some form of action. We can no longer remain thinking about our thoughts, for we will just be sitting here in the same position, ruminating on the exact same feelings. What works for me is starting with one small task. Maybe it’s unloading the dishwasher. Once that’s done, maybe I’ll load the dishes by the sink also. Suddenly, the kitchen looks tidier, and my mind feels lighter. Then maybe I start something more ambitious, opening a blank Google Doc and writing the first line of a blog. As I tap away, more words may appear. Maybe I'll finish it, maybe it’ll only be half-written, but I’m already in a better place than I was 30 minutes ago, stuck in my own head.
Action is the antidote.
When we’re caught in our own rough threads, action helps pull us out of our immediate lows. Even the smallest step forward can create momentum. It brings us to a place where we may be more open to see what others see in us, the unique patterns and colours that make us who we are.
