Action vs Stability

Action vs Stability

Just get up and act. Over analysis cause paralysis. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes not. We have the ability to rewrite and recreate

We all go through moments when we feel paralyzed to act. It can be complete or partial depending on the perceived enormity of the task. Last year, I excitedly completed the manuscript of my book and with full faith embarked on the journey of publishing it. The entire process though frustrating at times, was enjoyable and a learning experience. As the book neared completion, I started wondering how will I promote or publicize the book. My thought process gravitated more and more towards ‘how will I do this, will I be able to do it, I hope I do well’.

Our mind has an infinite capacity to stretch and learn something new. And, this was definitely not the first time that I was trying something out of my comfort zone. Although I was in action, I allowed my imaginary perceptions about the future, the process and outcome to dominate my state of being. Aspiring for perfection (which is most subjective) hinders getting the work done and also, over analysis causes paralysis. I have always thrived on challenges. What happened this time? I lost sight of my vision – sharing knowledge.

“I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more of a fool not afraid of rejection.” Billy Joel

The means to a goal keeps changing due to dynamism in the environment. With the advent of social media and other technological advancements, obsolescence has become a severe challenge for many businesses. Many businesses have little option but to keep redesigning their way of doing work. Often people choose the tried and tested route or hold back from taking action because it may appear as the easier thing to do. We pay the price of diminished opportunities for growth.

Let us ask ourselves, are we getting caught in process of doing things and our self constructed perception of our abilities and outcomes and thereby, limiting ourselves. Also, is stability or inaction truly ever an option?

I have come across clients who have a preference for stability. Often when there is a shake up in the job or a need to stretch to the next level, there is inertia or sometimes, even resistance to change. Some executives prefer to stay in the same job because of fear of failure or a perceived inability to fulfill the demands of the next job. Working for many years in a particular role or organization or industry, some people develop the belief that they are not equipped to do anything new and different.

On the other hand, there are people who leave a stable job and choose to explore their passion, hobbies, dream job and such. Or some extend themselves and test their potential at various levels. For instance, Farhan Akhtar for his recently released movie, Bhag Milkha Bhag trained for over a year and half to fit the role. Many actors physically train and research exceptionally hard to slip into the demands of the character. 

The zeal to learn and challenge oneself repeatedly is what distinguishes leaders. While climbing a mountain or competing in a race, you can either focus on the finish line or keep looking at the hurdles along the way and get disheartened and disillusioned. We of course, need processes to accomplish our vision but if the mere thought of those processes makes us freeze or raise our expectations and create anxiety, introspection and reflection of our thoughts and perceptions is required to clear the fog.

“Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” Anais Nin

How can we stay aligned with our vision?

We all need a vision – an inspiring vision that is so deeply embedded in our whole being that we are motivated to pursue every action passionately to achieve our vision. Our vision could be as simple as raising a happy family to as expansive as being a leader of a country. Every act of commitment contributes to the society. However, often the lure of the world, our impulsive behavior or lack of clarity distracts us from our path.

To accomplish a target or picture a dream, many actors, artists, sportsmen etc adopt visualization as a technique. Visualization requires concentration and recreation of all the images, sounds and feelings in the mind surrounding an activity in the likely physical environment. Walt Disney visualized the famous character Mickey Mouse while traveling on a train and the concept of the theme parks came alive while watching his daughters play on a merry-go-round. Arnold Schwarzenegger says that he applied the principle of visualization, which he learnt in sports to his career as an actor and politician because the more clearly we see a goal and believe in a goal, the higher is our power and motivation to turn a dream into a reality.

Communication is another powerful tool to stay on course because it reinforces and validates our ability to achieve. In organizations, in heady or difficult times, senior management sometimes gets engulfed in day-to-day operations and crisis management. We often lose track of what we set out do and get absorbed in activities that take us further away from our goal. Meeting as a group and reviewing the mission statement is a helpful mechanism to step back and realign.

Often, even when people get aware of this distraction, they keep hoping and waiting for the right moment. There is no such thing as the right timing, right circumstances. The timing is right the moment we decide to get into action. The title of Richard Branson’s book, ‘Screw it, Let’s do it’ says it all. Just get up and act; our inherent nature is to learn and evolve. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes not. Remember, we have the ability to rewrite and recreate.