Taking Action

Last week, I found myself silently questioning every life choice that brought me to that moment.

Let me back up.

I recently joined a daily personal development program – something for me, not something I’m leading. It includes two workouts a week, and I was all in. Day one, I pushed hard. Too hard! I spent the next day walking around shaped like an S, nursing lower back pain and regret.

When it came time to show up for the next workout, I had a choice to make.

I could look through the lens of: “I’m injured. I can’t do this. Poor me.”
Or I could ask myself, “What choice do I have right now that moves me forward?”

I chose to show up. I modified the movements, I focused on form, and I listened to my body.

Here’s the part that surprised me: By the end of the warm-up, the pain started to fade. I was able to keep going for 35 minutes into the 40-minute class. Not perfect, but powerful. I wrapped up thinking “yay me!” rather than “woe is me” that day.

And that, right there, is what I want you to recognize – the power of the lens you choose.

You don’t get to pick your circumstances. But you absolutely get to pick how you see them.

You can see yourself as the victim of your situation, or you can decide to show up as the hero of your story.

I’m not talking about being performative or pushing through when it’s unsafe. I’m talking about the small, meaningful choice to say, “Even if I can’t do everything today, what can I do?”

That’s what makes the difference between spiraling and rising. As Brené Brown says:
“You either walk into your story and own your truth, or you live outside of your story, hustling for worthiness.”

The lens you choose doesn’t erase reality. But it changes your relationship to it by reflecting a different view. It changes your next step. And over time, it changes everything.

If you’re not sure how to switch your lens, here’s what I suggest…

This weekend, I challenge you to take one situation you’ve been struggling with – something that makes you want to hide, shut down, or feel defeated – and ask:

What lens am I using to view this right now?
If I were the hero in this story, what would I do next?

Even a small brave action, like showing up for a warm-up when you’re not sure you can handle the whole class, has the power to change how you see yourself. And that shifts the entire experience.

I’ll leave you with this question:
​What lens are you looking through today?

Choose the one that moves you forward. Step into the hero story.

Read this quote again, and really let it sink in this time:
“You either walk into your story and own your truth, or you live outside of your story, hustling for worthiness.“

Have you ever told yourself you’re going to do something (again and again) only not to do it? In other words – making an empty promise.

For two years, I struggled to keep my commitment to exercise, but I can finally say I’m doing it. Seven weeks in, it’s a habit. I got tired of selling myself empty promises.

Empty promises – whether to yourself or someone else – are a surefire path to disappointment.

Maybe you’ve been meaning to make that sales call. Or finally take your job search seriously. Or send the weekly newsletter you keep talking about. Maybe you keep saying you’ll read something inspiring at night instead of doomscrolling. Whatever it is, every delay is another promise left hanging. And it creates a ripple of disappointment – mostly in yourself.

What’s the fix?
Start keeping promises to yourself.
Easier said than done, sure. But worth every bit of effort.

You can’t always control what others promise or deliver. But you can control how you show up for yourself. Others following through becomes nothing more than icing on the cake, rather than what you rely on for sustenance.

So why is it so hard? Because we tend to wait until we’re “in the mood.”

What we seem to forget is that doing “the thing” changes our mood. Action creates the momentum we crave, not the other way around. Once you’re in motion, feeling stuck disappears.

Don’t wait to feel motivated. Move first and meet the motivation where it already is – in progress.

That’s when you start seeing results…
The sales call turns into a dream client.
The tailored résumé lands the interview.
The newsletter connects with your next big opportunity.
The book you picked up reignites your inspiration.
Momentum builds. Promises get kept.

Remember, your mood shouldn’t dictate your actions. Your actions will shape your mood.

Procrastination and avoidance are addictive because they bring temporary relief.

Cringing at the thought of pitching a potential sponsor for your podcast?
Anxious about the networking event on your calendar?
Apprehensive about committing to running a half-marathon next spring?

Skipping the pitch, ignoring your calendar, and clicking away from the registration form. Whew…*wipes forehead*

Avoidance feels like a sedative: Quick, easy, and always available. You’ll regret it later, but the short-term comfort keeps you coming back.

Here’s the twist: Choosing “easy” can still move you forward. Pick the easiest hard. Start small. Break your big goal into the ittiest bittiest possible step. Then do just that.

I started with 20 minutes of exercise. Small, but challenging. Before I knew it, 30 minutes felt easy.

You know what’s harder than doing 20 minutes today? Looking back a year from now and still stuck, still waiting, still sitting in the same spot.

I’ve been there. It’s worse.
Pick your hard.

Will it be the hard that gets you closer to your goals?
Or the hard that keeps you stuck in place?

Don’t make empty promises. Fill them with action!