Waiting

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Most of us wait for the feeling or mood to motivate our actions. We expect to feel a certain way (e.g., comfortable, motivated, passionate) before we act.

 

This is one approach to living our life. It is very nice to enjoy the feeling or mood first that makes the action flow very easily and naturally. But this approach, by itself, has severe limitations.

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Action first

 

Often, “feeling a certain way” will not occur before the action. The action must be taken first; then the feeling will likely follow.

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In large measure, we do not have direct control over our feelings and moods. To always practice the feelings-before-action approach leaves us at the whim of our feelings and moods, leaves at the mercy of their vicissitudes.

 

In general, we do have direct control and choice over our actions. Consequently, we can get the results we want and we can usually stimulate the desired feelings and moods that will occur after we have made our choice (most often, a choice of courage) and taken the action.

 

Think of a recent time when you were “waiting for the feeling,” yet you could have chosen to take the action first. What might have happened if you had chosen to act first?

 

Look for an opportunity today to choose the action before the feeling.

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See Five-minute trial.

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"Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not."

—William James (1842-1910, American psychologist, author)