Are You Sitting and Waiting for Life to Happen? The Difference Between Knowing and Doing
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you knew what you needed to do, but just couldn’t seem to bring yourself to do it? Maybe it was starting a new exercise routine, preparing for a meeting, or having a difficult conversation with a friend. We’ve all been there at one time or another. This is the difference between knowing something and doing something.
Knowing something is the first step in any process of change. It’s the acquisition of information, knowledge, or understanding about a particular topic or situation. It’s the recognition that something needs to be done, and having an idea of what that something might be. For example, you might know that regular exercise is important for your health, or that consistently preparing for critical meetings is essential for academic success, or that being honest and direct with others is key to building strong relationships.
But knowing something is not enough. It’s the action that really counts. Doing something is the implementation of that knowledge into our life. It’s taking that first step towards change and putting our ideas into practice. This is where we face the challenges, obstacles, and fears that may be holding us back or that can send us off course once we have taken that first step.
Doing something requires motivation, commitment, perseverance and constant reminders. It requires a willingness to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. It also requires self-awareness and understanding of the psychological tools needed to manage your thoughts and emotions when things don’t go as planned.
The difference between knowing something and doing something is like the difference between reading a recipe and cooking a meal. You can read a recipe all day long, but until you actually gather the ingredients, follow the steps, and put it in the oven, you won’t have a delicious meal to enjoy.
So, how do you bridge the gap between knowing something and doing something?
Set realistic goals – break down your overall goal into smaller, achievable steps. This helps us to avoid feeling overwhelmed and helps us to make progress towards our goals.
Create a plan – that outlines the specific actions you need to take to achieve your goal. Having a plan helps us to stay organized and focused. When will you complete the steps by, how will you know you’ve done it, how will you measure your success?
Find someone to hold you accountable – the support of a friend, family member, coach or mentor to help you stick to your goals, to encourage you, remind you and hold you to account.
Celebrate your successes – even the smaller steps should be celebrated. This help us to stay motivated and focused on our end goal.
In conclusion, knowing something is important, but it’s the action that really counts. Taking that first step towards change can be scary, it can take courage, but it’s the only way to achieve your goals and live the life you want. So, don’t just sit on the side-lines, get out there and start doing!
