Stop Wishing Start Doing

The new year brings a sense of renewal and the opportunity to start over with a fresh clean sheet. So, why not make this year the one where you stop sitting around wishing that your life was different and instead start making it happen? Stop wishing, start doing and turn your hopes and dreams into reality.

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How often have you wished for your life was different or better? To have more money, to live in a nicer place, to have more friends, to be able to do X? Unfortunately, and contrary to the advice of many TikTok ‘experts’, you can’t just wish yourself to a better life. Without focused action in support of your goals, you’re dependent on the goodwill of the Gods, the cosmos, the wish fairy, or some other benign benefactor. Wouldn’t it be better to take control of your own destiny?

In this post I’m going to walk you through 3 steps to get you where you want to be:

1. Turn your ‘wishing’ into a clear vision – a picture of what you want your life to look like. 
2. Make a plan for how to get there. 
3. Take consistent action on that plan.

So, let’s go through each step in more detail.

Have a Clear Vision of What You Want Your Life to Look Like

First Create a Clear Vision

I recently read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life. It’s a great book in which Arnie uses his life experience to demonstrate how having a clear vision and using it as a guiding force has led to his remarkable achievements. 

The first chapter is called Have a Clear Vision. In it, Arnie advocates taking time out, without distractions, to formulate a clear vision of what you want your life to be. He argues that creating a clear vision of your goals and then regularly visualising yourself achieving them, generates desire and motivation that guides your actions and drives you on through hard times. Further, your vision becomes your guiding principle, giving you: –

‘a way to decipher whether a decision is good or bad for you, based on whether it gets you closer or further away from where you want your life to go. Does the picture you have in your mind of your ideal future get blurrier or sharper because of this thing you’re about to do?’ Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This is the first step then: To create a motivating vision of how you would like your life to be. See it clearly, hold it up in front of you, return to it often, believe in it. Stop wishing, start doing.

Plan how you are going to get there

Define Specific Objectives

Now that you have your clear vision of success it’s time to set those specific and measurable goals that support it. Define exactly what you want to achieve and how you will measure your progress. Try to avoid vague language and set clear, achievable targets. Use specific metrics to track your success and ensure that your goals are quantifiable. This will help you stay focused and accountable.

Breaking Down Goals into Manageable Steps

When it comes to achieving success, it’s essential to break down your goals into manageable steps. Instead of being overwhelmed by the big picture, focus on small, achievable milestones that can help propel you forward. By setting specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, you can create a roadmap for success. For instance, if your goal is to start a business, you could break it down into steps such as conducting market research, drafting a business plan, securing funding, and launching a marketing campaign. If it’s to downsize to a smaller house this year, your steps might be, putting your house on the market, researching smaller properties and possible relocation areas and decluttering.

Think about Process, Changing Little Things for Big Effects

For some goals, success can often be achieved as a result of consistent, incremental improvements. Rather than solely fixating on the end goal, consider the process and the little changes that can lead to significant effects. It’s like building a brick wall – each small brick laid carefully and precisely contributes to the solidity of the entire structure. Whether it’s developing a new habit, refining your skills, or enhancing your knowledge, embracing the power of small changes can lead to monumental results. Just like the ripples of a stone thrown into a pond, the impact of minor adjustments can reach far beyond the initial point of contact. 

A great book on this subject, and one I refer to often, is Atomic Habits by James Clear. It’s a really practical and useful book on positive habit formation that teaches you how to accomplish more by focusing on small things.

Establishing a Realistic Timeline

Once you’ve set your objectives, it’s crucial to establish a realistic timeline for achieving them. Consider the time and effort each goal will require and set milestones along the way. Breaking down your objectives into manageable steps with clear timeframes will help you stay on track and motivated.

By visualising what you want your life to look like and setting clear, achievable objectives, you stop wishing and start doing.

Take Action

It’s no good having a great plan if you don’t follow through.

Track Progress

Your plan should have established clear and specific metrics that you can measure your success against. So, make sure that you regularly assess and record data related to these metrics so that you can gauge your progress accurately. Use digital tools such as spreadsheets, project management software, or key performance indicators (KPIs) dashboards to organize and visualize the data. 

You should regularly compare the actual results with your predetermined targets to identify any gaps or areas needing improvement. Keep adjusting your strategies and tactics accordingly to stay on course and achieve your defined objectives. Regularly review and update the tracking process as necessary to ensure it aligns with the evolving goals and priorities.

Journaling

I use spreadsheets to track goals but also rely on my trusty moleskine notebooks to jot down my thoughts and achievements as I go.  They’re a great reference to look back on whenever I need a confidence boost.

Overcoming Procrastination and Self-Doubt

Identifying Procrastination Triggers

Do you find yourself putting off important tasks, only to regret it later? Identifying the triggers behind your procrastination can be the first step toward overcoming it. Maybe it’s the fear of failure, the daunting scale of a project, or simply feeling overwhelmed. Identifying these triggers, can help you to develop strategies to tackle them head-on.

Take a step back and reflect on the moments when you tend to delay tasks. Is it when you feel stressed or fatigued? Are there specific types of tasks that you consistently avoid? Keeping a journal, as suggested above, can help you track these patterns and pinpoint the root causes of your procrastination. Once you understand what triggers your tendency to procrastinate, you can start implementing targeted solutions to address each trigger. Remember, stop wishing, start doing. This is all about taking action so that we can achieve the life we want, and resisting procrastination is key.

Cultivating a Positive Mindset

When it comes to overcoming self-doubt, cultivating a positive mindset is essential. Instead of focusing on past failures or uncertainties, shift your perspective toward the possibilities that lie ahead. Keep your vision of the life that you want to have front and centre of your mind. Envisage yourself achieving the goals you have set. Imagine how good it will feel. Trust the process. Embrace a growth mindset, viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and growth, rather than insurmountable obstacles.

Practice positive self-talk and affirmations to counteract self-doubt. Remind yourself of past successes and strengths, reinforcing your belief in your capabilities. Surround yourself with supportive and encouraging people who can help bolster your confidence. Celebrate every small victory along the way.

By identifying procrastination triggers and cultivating a positive mindset, you can begin to break free from the cycle of self-doubt and hesitation, paving the way for newfound productivity and accomplishment.

If procrastination is a problem for you, a good book to try is Procrastination: What It Is, Why It’s a Problem and What You Can Bo About It by Fuschia M Sirois. Creatives might like to try Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles. 

Conclusion

In the grand symphony of life, wishing may set the stage, but it’s the doing that really matters. By replacing wishes with focused action, you hold the reins to your own destiny. So, stop leaving it to fate, stop wishing, start doing today. Envisage the life you want, feel it, believe it, and then make a plan and carry it through. You only have one life. Why not give it your best shot?

Thank you for reading my post. I would love to hear your comments, so please don’t hesitate to post them in the box below. If you liked the post, perhaps you would like to subscribe to my email list? You can do so via the ‘Join the List’ box below.

Sian. x

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