I’m guessing you’ve heard of the “Just do it” slogan. Who hasn’t? Sure seems to work well for Nike. After all they’ve been using it since 1988.
But I don’t think it works well as an approach to change. In fact, I think it’s one of the common mistakes we make when facing a transition.
I’m not saying you don’t need to take action to live your purpose. You do. But we’re told as we plan and dream for the future that moving into action is key. I hear people say things like “massive action,” “fast action,” or we need to “jump into action.” More and quicker activity seems to be the focus.
To everything there is a season
But there’s a time for rest, for a pause. To regroup.
Look at nature. I don’t stand on my deck in the rain yelling at the deciduous trees in my woods to get their leaves on. Those oaks and maples are in resting phase right now.
Sometimes you need a resting phase too.
Sometimes “just doing it” is inappropriate for where you are in your process. Jumping into action, especially random action, often causes more harm than good.
If you’ve been putting off working on your dreams because you’re afraid or you don’t know where to start you may think I just gave you permission to rest, to do nothing. Not so.
Discernment
Can you see how useful it would be to know when you should move into action and when you should pause? Is that a skill you’ve honed?
Can you also feel how important it is to know how to spend that precious pause? You might think it’s solely for Netflix binging, but it’s not.
Your thoughts?