Each individual has strengths. Some people are clearly doers. They are the ones who take action when it’s needed and sometimes even when it’s not. There are also notable thinkers. They are the ones who analyze, plan and explain. In real life, each person needs to meld the two types of energy, because thinking without doing ends in nothing; doing without thinking can cause unnecessary risk and even major catastrophes. In other words, each of us needs to learn how to walk the talk and transform thoughts into positive actions.
Walking the talk is the practice of aligning your core values and intentions with your daily, tangible behaviors. Bridging the gap between a positive mindset and proactive execution requires identifying your true “why,” recognizing and reframing the fears that cause procrastination, and starting with small, manageable commitments.1
To determine your “why,” you need to be honest with yourself. What do you truly value? What do you want to accomplish? How long do you want to give yourself to achieve your goals? Is your “why” personal or have you planned your existence around someone else’s why? Think about what may have kept you from pursuing your goals. Are the obstacles concrete or do they stem from over-thinking, over-analysis and fear of failure?
Moving from intent to execution can be broken down into four simple steps:2
1. Determine your why and your goals.
2. Write down the goals and list actionable steps for each of them.
3. Set a realistic timeframe for reaching the goals.
4. Just do it. Use the list of actionable steps and apply them on a daily basis.
Don’t try to do everything at once. Multi-tasking is way overrated and can be overwhelming and backfire on you. Start with a single, small action. When you accomplish it, you will feel optimistic, which will help to build momentum. The small steps taken daily result in the formation of good habits that take you closer to your goals, incrementally and securely.
Walking the talk requires accountability. You can be solely accountable but if you have a cohort or someone with similar goals to walk the talk with, it may be easier to hold each other accountable. It’s human nature to “find ways out” of doing things that require discipline and repetition, but once walking the talk becomes habitual, it also integrates into your personal essence and way of living—it becomes truly empowering and transformative.
1, 2 https://medium.com/the-ascent/how-to-actually-walk-the-talk-aa31118393f0
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