Getting It Done Part 12

Get yourself in an action-oriented state

When you find it difficult to take action, start with the next best thing — pretend to yourself that you’re taking action. Stop and think about a time when you were effective, when you were disciplined and able to take action. It may have been a long time ago, in your childhood or adolescence perhaps, or it may have been a few weeks ago. In your mind, go back and relive that experience. Pay particular attention to the positive feelings of satisfaction you had and to the positive results that came from your actions. There is a disciplined, action-oriented person somewhere inside of you. Get in intimate contact with that person and experience how great it is to be that person.

Then, do everything you can to imitate the successful, effective you. Sit like you would sit if you were action-oriented and effective. Walk like you would walk if you were taking decisive, effective action. Talk like you would talk. Breathe like you would breathe. Put on the clothes you would wear if you were taking the action you need to take. Experience how positive you would feel by taking action. Pretend intensely enough and you’ll find yourself almost completely unable to resist actually doing it.

We’ve looked at several powerful strategies for getting yourself to take action. Admittedly, it can be difficult to actually do that which you know must be done. But so what? Is it such a bad thing that success takes commitment and effort? If it were easy, of what real value would it be?

You know what needs to be done. And as you’ve just seen, there are many very effective ways to get yourself to do it. So, what are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time than right now to take action.
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