There’s an old saying that goes, “When all is said and done, there’s more said than done.” The funny part about this saying is the reaction most people have to it. They agree with it. They may nod or think something along the lines of, ‘Yup, you got that right.’
But few of us think of ourselves in that light. We agree that OTHER people do more talking than doing. But not me. No, sir. I get stuff done.
So let’s work the numbers. If everyone else does more talking than doing, then how does anything else get done? Surely I’m not doing all of it…although sometimes it might feel like that.
Obviously there are plenty of people getting things done. Most people would categorize themselves in that group.
But we’d be wrong.
See, many of us claim to have goals, things we work toward, whether they are weight loss goals (I’m gonna lose 20 pounds), fitness goals (I’m gonna run a 10k race), professional goals (I’m gonna get a promotion), or personal goals (I’m gonna get a black belt). But, if a stranger were to observe us, would they agree that we are working toward those goals?
Here’s the rub: Most of us spend more time TALKING about what we’re going to do than we do DOING what we should do to achieve our goals. That’s a mouthful, no? Let me simplify it.
Most of us are PRETENDING that we actually want to achieve certain goals because we don’t actually live like we are trying to achieve them.
If you tell yourself (or someone else) that you want to lose 20 pounds, but you continue to eat all kinds of junk food, then you really don’t want to lose 20 pounds. You want people to think you want to lose 20 pounds. You don’t really want to lose 20 pounds. You’re pretending.
If you tell yourself (or someone else) that you want to run a 10k race, but you always have an excuse for not practicing or entering a race, then you really don’t want to run a 10k race. You want people to think you want to run a 10k race. You don’t really want to run a 10k race. You’re pretending.
If you tell yourself (or someone else) that you want a promotion, but you’re constantly late for work, then you really don’t want a promotion. You want people to think you want a promotion. You don’t really want a promotion. You’re pretending.
If you tell yourself (or someone else) that you want to get a black belt, but you never practice, then you really don’t want to get a black belt. You want people to think you want to get a black belt. You don’t really want to get a black belt. You’re pretending.
Pretending is easy. Discipline is difficult. That’s why most people talk more than they DO. But, if you’re serious, the solution is simple. Make sure that everything you do, in some way, allows you to achieve your goal.
I said it was simple. Not easy.
Just stop pretending.
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