The Importance of Action in Self Help | My Blog

Self help is not simply a matter of understanding one?s circumstances and how they developed. It doesn?t end with the visualization of a better alternative. Self help is a fundamentally psychological matter, but that doesn?t mean that it occurs only on some sort of theoretical, ?thought level.? Genuine self help methods do involve a great deal of consideration and introspection, but they also demand a subsequent action in order to reach one?s goals.

At the core of any successful self help experience, there is action.

Many critics seem suspicious of self help measures because they believe they work purely based on thought. It is true that positive thinking techniques and other thought-based strategies are popular means to self-fulfillment. However, even these entirely ?mental? processes require concrete action in terms of directed thinking. Every episode of self help centers upon taking actions.

That is also why so many efforts at self improvement fail. Before we can take action, in most cases, we have to develop a clear understanding of who we are and why we behave in certain ways. That deeply introspective process can leave many people overwhelmed or ?burnt out? in a hurry.

There is also the problem of habit. By and large, our limitations as individuals are the byproduct of bad behavioral habits developed over time. One of the most common problems is the habit of procrastination and other ?lazy? tendencies. Even the most well-intended self help practitioners can find themselves in a difficult situation early in their journey. They have to get over the ?habit hump? in order to take action. Their natural inclination to avoid that kind of effort can be a barrier to success.

However, it?s a barrier that must be conquered. Absent action, nothing changes. Regardless of one?s awareness of a need for change, things will roll along in similar fashion unless changes are actually made.

In fact, taking the first steps toward self help without following up with action can actually make matters more difficult. That?s because a heightened awareness of the need for change, coupled with inaction, can be stressful and anxiety-provoking.

Intellectualizing one?s circumstances indefinitely and procrastinating instead of taking action is really the antithesis of self help. So many people do just that, however, that some begin to question the underlying validity of self help processes. They see so many people who have seemingly embraced self help techniques without transforming their lives in any visible fashion. What those onlookers don?t realize is that a lack of action based on the knowledge gained is what is preventing success?not the technique itself.

Action matters and anyone who hopes to successfully engage in self help needs to find a way to overcome the ?habit hump? that prevents it.

There?s no ?one size fits all? solution for that problem?

However, there are many ways to get the job done. One popular method is to increase accountability by sharing your plans or goals with others. This tends to create a natural drive to get things started. Others find that reading, watching, or listening to particularly inspirational materials can give them the ?bump? they need to get started.

Regardless of the method used to initiate the first wave of action, the good news is that, in time, the new active habit will replace the previous pattern of procrastination. Once one begins to see that happening, they will begin to truly maximize the value of their chosen self help strategy.

Do you have a plan? Have you taken the first steps to building a better future? Do you understand your goals and have an idea of what you will need to achieve them? If so, you are perfectly positioned to have a truly transformative experience. Now, all that is standing in your way is the critical last element of the self help equation-action.

Find a way to take action. Think about your goals and follow their inspiration. Seek out encouragement and energy wherever you may find it. Get the proverbial ball rolling as soon as you possibly can. Once you begin taking action, you can move toward your goals and the habit of taking control of your life and destiny will surely crowd out your previously-held ?instincts? toward inactivity and procrastination.

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Lee P Jones ? I enjoy writing all about self improvement ?

Source: http://www.funnelwebmarketing.org/selfhelp/blog/2011/05/16/the-importance-of-action-in-self-help/

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