Motion vs. Action – How Different They Are, & Why It Matters
Lin-Manuel Miranda definitely had a lightbulb moment when he got the idea to create “Hamilton”, but having the idea wasn’t enough to bring it to fruition. Ruth Bader Ginsburg didn’t become Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by just hoping it would come to be. We often have the best of intentions when it comes to making things happen for ourselves. But sometimes we confuse motion with action.
Motion is the series of things we do before we take action. Buying gorgeous new workout clothes is great retail therapy but it doesn’t qualify as fitness, and neither does just paying monthly for a gym membership we’re not using (not shaming, just saying). These are things we do to support our intentions, but obviously we know they don’t produce change. They only prepare us for change. To illustrate the point:
∙ Researching weight loss plans is motion. Actually starting one is action.
∙ Joining the gym is motion. Getting on the treadmill is action.
∙ Updating your resume is motion. Applying to jobs and going on interviews is action.
Having the idea of the century and wanting to collaborate with a colleague is definitely motion. But until you present your idea and start to launch it, it won’t start to happen.
The pitfall many of us encounter is that motion makes you feel like you’re getting things done. But really, you’re just preparing to get something done. We can research exhaustively, make lists and draw up our plans. But it’s only the actual doing of things – taking action – that moves things forward. It seems so obvious, but it isn’t.
Why do we habitually do this?
There’s nothing wrong with planning, unless we’re using it as a way to keep ourselves “busy”, procrastinate, and distract ourselves from diving in and taking action.
Most of us know what we want for ourselves, but we don’t make it happen. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits explains, “Motion allows us to feel like we're making progress without running the risk of failure. Most of us are experts at avoiding criticism. It doesn’t feel good to fail or to be judged publicly, so we tend to avoid situations where that might happen. And that's the biggest reason why you slip into motion rather than taking action: you want to delay failure.”
Break the cycle
It’s important to understand the difference between motion and action, and not let ourselves become immobilized and fizzle out on our great intentions (paralysis by analysis). Here’s how to stop procrastinating and start scratching some things off your “Things I Should Do” list:
Make it easy. Set yourself up for success by making it easy to get there. Pack your gym bag the night before and leave it by the front door. Gather your notes in a file so you’re ready to propose your next great idea. Update your online portfolio or your resume so you are ready to show the world what you’ve got. Keeping a reminder list of your short-term, attainable goals tacked up in plain sight is a great way to remind yourself daily of what you want to achieve.
Find something new. Research, find, and decide on that new yoga class, cooking class, or professional development class that will support your goals, and book it.
Use your calendar. Map out an honest plan to decide when and where you are going to take concrete action, and put it on your calendar. Make it realistic, and sustainable. Make a date with yourself and stick with it. Give yourself a deadline. Or decide on a new routine – “On Mondays, and Wednesdays, I’m going to go the gym after work. Every 6 months, I’m going to review my resume and update it with my newest accomplishments.” And take the extra step of putting these on your calendar.
Chart your progress. While you’re spending all that time in motion -- thinking, planning, and surfing the web -- make a chart or find a template to use to mark your progress. A graph of your progress or that ubiquitous “thermometer” of progress is really effective when you can stand back and admire your accomplishments as they’re happening.
Be a doer, not just a dreamer. You have it in you to become the best version of yourself. Even if you’re not writing symphonies or the next great American novel, taking action to propel yourself forward will make you feel like the rock star you truly are.
By MNT2LEAD featured writer Yael Fishman
Contact Yael on Twitter or Instagram @yfishman67