The Bigger Picture:Many of us have something we want to do, but are not doing it (for whatever reason). We're waiting for the right time, the right feeling or the right context in life. We are waiting for a moment when we might know more than we do now, or for something to change around us.
Most often, however, nothing changes until we do something.
Sometimes we need to learn something new before we can do something new. Sometimes, we learn from doing.
It may not be the case that we have to gain a great lesson before we take action.
There is a value in deciding to do something differently simply because we've never tried this direction before. Doing is a decision. Most of what we learn in life occurs after we make that choice.
There are two things that stop most of us from taking action: fears that we are inadequate, and worries that things might go terribly wrong.
We are afraid that we are not good enough to take this step and succeed.
In this way, we get stuck on thinking about worst case scenarios. And yet, ironically, often the worst that can happen is happening right now - while we're not taking action. Our life as it is, forever, and not as we want it to be.
We have an interesting relationship with our feelings. They are an extra sense for us, providing information about the world around us and our inner selves.
They are not meant to drive our lives, however. We do not need to make them that powerful. Rather, there are a lot of benefits to doing things we believe in, despite how we are feeling.
It's when we venture into a new area of action that we really feel our feelings.
Every fear and insecurity we've had - that have traditionally kept us limited and small - rear their heads.
This is not a reason to abandon this new direction, however. It is the moment to choose whether we will have these changes in our lives, and do whatever it takes to keep us on track.
It seems to me that we have never before known a time in history when people were so afraid of their feelings. Most of our daily activities are designed around avoiding or numbing them out. At the same time, fewer of us are feeling happiness.
In truth, it is helpful for us to say to ourselves that we will do things that have meaning for us despite how it feels.
In doing so, we remind ourselves that our feelings are not all-powerful and needn't define our lives. The more we do this, the more we see how different our lives can be, and how we can also feel joy.
When we take action (despite our feelings) we gain an opportunity to learn something - from experience.
For example, I hear many people wishing they could say "no" to specific requests or situations in their lives.
Until they actually do, they will not get to see that people won't hate or leave them for making decisions, or how they might gain more respect for it.
We can't learn from what isn't part of our lived experience. Furthermore, we need new experiences to gain new information.
While not everyone in our life will react well, the more we learn about ourselves, the more we can separate between our lives and the struggles of others.
We will never truly know the outcome of an idea until we try it. This is true whether we are looking to open a new door or close an old one.
I am reminded of a very clever slogan in the peace movement: "What do you say yes to when you say no to war?" Sometimes our path does not become clear until we make decisions about what is really important to us.
When we try something new, the unexpected happens. On the contrary, while we are waiting to learn enough, we never experience the unexpected.
While many of us are afraid of what we might not be ready for, the unexpected we are avoiding also includes benefits, opportunities and wonderful lessons.
We will never learn all we need to in order to move. Most of what we learn in life happens because we take action. All we need is the inspiration to make a decision and take the first step.
Sometimes, the most significant thing we can do in our life is simply that which is different to our old habits.
Doing so allows us to move, and that's a much nicer thing to be working on than how much we're stuck still.
Finally, there needs to be a word on isolation and support. Support from others gives us the chance to gain new perspectives and access new ideas. It gives us the resource we need to conceive of new things and continue despite our feelings.
As long as we are the only ones contributing ideas to our lives, we can easily get stuck in the same spot.
Shalini Sinha works as a life coach and Bowen practitioner in her clinic, Forward Movement.