The Action Does It Philosophy

Many inspirational blogs, videos and books focus primarily on repeating positive affirmations as a method of change.  Similar success in business books and blogs focus almost entirely on taking action.  The philosophy of Action Does It is that it’s not an either/or question but that it takes both elements to achieve either personal change or success.

Affirmations

An affirmation is a positive statement about a thing or condition that you don’t have but would like to have in your life.  When repeating affirmations you are instructed to feel as though you already have it, but your mind knows you don’t.  Especially to those of us who are skeptics, the awareness that the statement isn’t true is always hovering in the background.  Affirmations will eventually change your belief, any lie repeated enough will sooner or later ring true, but for skeptics it may take a very long time.

How to make affirmations more effective

A skeptic needs empirical evidence in order to believe.  So if something isn’t true how can you provide evidence that it is?

• ·        Use evidence from a similar situation in the past
• ·        Take action to create at least the first step toward what you want

Search your past, have you achieved something similar, or made a change in the past that you can relate to your current situation?  If so use that as evidence.  You can add it to your affirmation to increase its power. Ex:  “Just as I did in my first sales job, I have the ability to relate to all kinds of people.” or  “Just as I did when I was laid off last year, I have the ability to take action and achieve my goals.”

Or you may need to take some action toward your goal and use that success to reinforce your affirmation.  Make it a small and easily accomplished step so you are assured of victory.  Once achieved, pat yourself on the back. In fact, congratulate yourself more than the achievement requires, you are trying to pump yourself up to believe that your ultimate goal is also achievable.  Add this success to your affirmation:  “With my recent success in ___________ I am well on my way to achieving my goal.”

Action : A vital step

Once you have your believable affirmations firmly set in your mind, you need to take action to reach your goal.  Just doing the affirmations won’t get you there.  Affirmations will build your confidence and open your mind to opportunities that will lead you to your goal though, so its important to keep doing them.

This blog will provide you with information, inspirational stories, and action items every day that will help you on your path to your goals.

Today’s Action Item:

Write a list of goals (If you don’t already have one) and choose one of them to work on as you follow Action Does It.  Now take one tiny step toward your goal.