Taking Action Creates Clarity
An earlier version of this article appeared on this website in August, 2023
Do you ever feel like you’re standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure of how to move forward but knowing you can’t stay where you are? Maybe it feels like you’re staring down a steep ski slope, wondering how you’ll ever get to the bottom in one piece.
I’ve been there—literally. As I hesitated at the top of a daunting ski run, my adventurous friend Erica hollered, “Just point your skis down the mountain and go!” It wasn’t the most comforting advice, but it was the nudge I needed.
Spoiler alert: my descent was not graceful. But by simply starting, I learned to navigate the pitch of the slope, feel the texture of the snow, and chart a strategic path to my goal— the hot toddy waiting for me at the bottom of the mountain.
The same principle applies when tackling a big life decision or career shift: you don’t need to have all the answers or even all the skills upfront—just the courage to take the first step.
Why Taking Action Matters
When you’re physically stuck on a freezing ski slope with hot-shot skiers zooming past, you have no choice but to move. But when you’re stuck in the figurative sense—facing an unfulfilling job, a stalled project, or a major life change—it’s easy to freeze in place.
The key to breaking loose? Take action in small, low-risk increments. These manageable steps not only build momentum but also chip away at the stress and anxiety that come with feeling stuck.
How to get unstuck? Here are five steps that can help you jump start the process.
Step One: Get Out of Your Head and Onto the Page
Although there are a lot of great apps for note taking, mind-mapping, and the like, research shows that putting something on paper is often more meaningful and memorable. Simply pick up a notebook and write out what it is you hope to accomplish: that is, your goal.
Step Two: Make it SMART
Run your goal through the SMART test. Writing your responses to these questions in your notebook can help bring your ideas to life.
Is it Specific?
Is it Meaningful to you?
Is it Achievable given your current circumstances?
Is it Realistic?
Is it Time-bound, with a clearly defined deadline?
Step Three: Break It Down
List every action step you can think of, starting with the smallest one. Tiny steps add up. Whether there are five or fifty, writing them down gives you a roadmap. Each step leads you closer to your goal.
Step Four: Schedule It
Commit to your steps by scheduling them. Apps like Todoist can help you stay on track by sending reminders and giving you that satisfying “pop” when you check something off. Prefer analog? Keep a running list in your notebook. The method doesn’t matter—what counts is consistency.
Step Five: Celebrate Your Wins
Progress deserves recognition! After completing a major step—or a cluster of smaller ones—reward yourself. Whether it’s indulging in your favorite treat, going for a walk, diving into a good book, or sharing the moment with an accountability partner, celebrate what you’ve achieved.
Just Starting Changes Everything
Here’s the beauty of taking action: it often brings unexpected clarity. Goals can evolve as you learn and grow, and that’s perfectly normal. As you continue to move forward, the process itself becomes a source of insight and empowerment.
It’s also important to understand that while you have control over your actions, the outcome may not always be under your direct control. Those unexpected turns are often a source of clarity, moving you closer to a life that is personally authentic, sustainable, and meaningful.
Whether you’re staring down a treacherous ski slope, contemplating a career change, or trying to find your way through a knotty problem at work, progress happens when you take that first intentional step.
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References:
Masicampo, E. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2011). Consider it done! Plan making can eliminate the cognitive effects of unfulfilled goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(4), 667–683.
Umejima, K. et al. (2021). Paper notebooks vs mobile devices: Brain activation differences during memory retrieval. Front. Behav. Neurosci., 15. 1-11.