It takes one man to make a ripple, but a team to make a wave.
I used to be a massive dreamer when I was younger. So much so that I would often be told by family members to “wake up” due to staring into space around the dinner table or at work whilst trying to get things done throughout the day.
Looking back, I just knew I had things I had to do in order to find satisfaction in my life but for some reason, failed at finding solutions due to fear or other worries that crept up as the years progressed.
I would look for excuses to not get started, which the longer I held off the bigger the problems became. Depression typically followed, which lead me down a very dark place of despair that became very hard for me to get out of.
How to know what to do
It took me years of finally getting over it, and one that I don’t recommend anyone take if they’re to lead a stable life. Yet it’s very easily done and is often self-inflicted.
If you’ve ever been there, you can probably relate to what I’m saying.
But the good news is, it’s all in your control.
As much as It feels impossible to find purpose in your life when you’re in that place. There is in fact a 4 step solution, which looking back are the exact same steps i’ve always ended up taking in order to start being in control.
The 4 steps are as follows:
1) Write down your problems
There’s no better way to stress and make yourself depressed than to keep your problems and worries to yourself. I’ve been a victim of this throughout my twenties and somehow felt that keeping it in my head would eventually make it magically disappear.
The worse thing is that it often built up and made things worse. The trick to getting over this is to write down your problems on a bit of paper as you’re clearly able to see it in black and white.
It also makes it real and allows you to take it out of your head, which will free up your energy best used for coming up with a solution.
2) Look for solutions
Now that your problems are clear and written down. Start doing some research – Look for sources that will help you find an answer to your problems. Investigate, educate yourself, ask questions and analyze.
A problem only exists because we’re not yet educated in that area to solve it. Every problem is solvable and chances are, someone will have already discovered a solution to it.
The great news is, we have the power and flexibility of the Internet at our disposal. Chances are, most of your solutions will only be a few clicks away.
3) Ask for help
Never feel ashamed of asking for help. I used to find this very difficult and often felt like a coward, believing that I wasn’t strong enough to find a solution for myself.
The truth is, it’s completely the wrong mindset to have – No one has ever succeeded in life without someone else’s help in some way or other.
Yes, you can do things alone, but it would be far better if you were able to be guided by a mentor who treads the path before you, which would save you months and possibly years of your time.
4) Take action
Arguably the most important step. It’s vital that you take what you know and apply it. It’s also the most difficult step to take for most people due to fear of making a mistake or failing.
Failure isn’t a bad thing and should be embraced if you’re to make progress and eventually succeed.
While the things I’ve listed seem easy and obvious. You now have a simple strategy to know exactly what to do to find out where you want your life to go and to ultimately make a difference.
And I urge you to take action – Because action inspires confidence.
