The Courage to Act

Do you desperately want to experience change in one or more areas of your life?

Then let me ask you this:

\”What are you doing to bring it about?\”

Many people crave change …

Sadly, many of those who do will sabotage their own chances of living the lives they desire through an inability to summon the courage to override their programmed pain avoidance response.

[box type=\”shadow\”]\”Often the difference between a successful person and a failure is not one has better abilities or ideas, but the courage that one has to bet on one\’s ideas, to take a calculated risk – and to act.\”

– Andre Malraux
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Pain and pleasure

You see, we humans are programmed to avoid pain and seek out pleasure. And the powerful survival instinct within us ensures that  precedence is typically given to the former

Our hunter gatherer ancestors experienced life as a fight for survival … Hunt or be hunted, eat or be eaten, procreate or be wiped out as a species.

This pain avoidance programming worked well when survival was the main purpose of life. The mere thought of the pain of being savaged and devoured by some man-eating beast was enough stimulus to keep men on their toes, alert to the dangers that life posed.

The biggest obstacle

But we have evolved and today, the need for imminent survival has, at least for most of us, given way to the need for self actualization – the desire to lead more fulfilling, meaningful and joyful lives.

The simple protection mechanism that we have been handed down, can, quite ironically, represent the biggest obstacle to realising our higher need.

Mental, not physical pain

In modern times, the \’pain\’ that we seek to avoid is more often mental, or psychological, rather than physical.

We dread being shown up, looking stupid, losing face and/or having to give up the status and possessions that we believe define us in the eyes of others.

Our inbuilt \’pain avoidance\’ mechanisms rely on analyzing patterns in our lives to determine whether new events and experiences are likely to lead to more pain or more pleasure.

And herein lies the makings of a vicious cycle!

Not worth the risk

The less we are prepared to engage in different life experiences, the less data patterns we have on which to base the determination of whether new experiences will serve us or not.

In the absence of sufficient data, our over cautious pain avoidance mechanisms simply conclude that a new experience is not worth the risk.

So \’sticking with the status quo\’ becomes something of a fate that we consign ourselves to ad infinitum if we lack the courage to override our pain avoidance alerts.

The positive flip side

Fortunately the converse is true. The ‘flip side’ to this vicious cycle of inaction and more of the same, is a virtuous cycle of action,  change and constant growth.

The more we take action to bring about change, the more we expose ourselves to new experiences and the more patterns we will be able to call on to help us conclude that change, in the direction that our hearts desire, is generally good, meaningful and fulfilling.

It takes courage

Let\’s be honest, it takes courage to act. Procrastination, delay and inaction are far easier to contemplate. But with action comes rich rewards and growth rather than frustration and stagnation.

Inspired action, no matter how small, starts the process of opening up whole new worlds of possibility and opportunity. Taking action to follow your heart begins with an inspired thought.

Unfortunately, thanks to our pain avoidance programming, inspired thoughts all too easily get replaced by negative thoughts of potential discomfort and loss – and intended action turns to inaction.

This is the reason so many people fail to experience even a small fraction of the variety, excitement and fulfillment that life has to offer.

Getting more from life

We were meant to experience the rich tapestry that is life, in all its kaleidoscope variety. Our inner beings know that this is true and, at a deeper level we hanker to get more from life.

The secret lies in having courage to act on your heartfelt impulses.

If you want to change your life for the better; to experience more from life, then gather up a little courage.

Small actions big rewards

Ask yourself what small action you can take, right now, that will move you in the direction of your dreams.

Be sure to ignore that little monkey on your shoulder, warning you about how painful it will be if things go wrong.

Instead, focus, with everything you have, on the desirable consequences of that action.

And then …

… just DO IT!

Take it from me that life is ready and waiting to reward you handsomely for stepping just a little way out of your comfort zone.

As you start to extend your boundaries and expand your horizons you will quickly appreciate that the sky is your limit!