Does your day often get filled with a variety of work activities, family things, and more, which impacts your special projects? For me, daily distractions push out my commitment to writing and other creative projects. It's easy to say, "This week, I'm going to get serious about my special project(s)!" Yet, follow-through is a whole other discussion, right?
When you keep moving special things to tomorrow or next week, sometimes it's that you have a gap between knowing and doing. According to Jack Canfield, best-selling author and motivational speaker, "Sometimes you experience discouragement, distraction or second-guessing. The problem isn't always information. You already know what you should be doing.*"
The ability to move forward in your special projects is often through creating a bridge between knowing what to do and doing it!
Try This: Stuck? Bridge the Knowing/Doing Gap to Move Forward
An idea from researchers** is to use one small behavior - a micro-improvement - to begin to close that gap. Try these simple ideas to get started this week when you notice the gap widening:
- Take three mindful breaths before responding to frustration.
- Set a five-minute daily reflection at the end of the day.
- Ask one more question before offering an answer.
- Spend 10 minutes a day reviewing your goals and priorities.
There is anxiety caused by being in the gap, so my favorite step to push forward in a project is to use calming mindful breaths. The value of recognizing the gap that appears is what can help you avoid disappointment or staying stuck!
* Jack Canfield, Jack Canfield Coaching Program | Achieve Your Goals
** The Knowing–Doing Gap | Attentional Leadership® Institute