A Blank Page, A Decision, 10 Fingers
A Blank Page, A Decision, 10 Fingers
Here I stand, impulsively starting a blog at midnight after dreaming of one for years. The only force that can stop me, is me.
It's an interesting paradox: the mind is the bridge to achieving one's dreams, yet it is powerful enough to keep you from moving even if you desire to do so. My mind was strong enough to make this decision and while apparently "that's all it takes", I can still stop typing.
See? I stopped typing for 5 minutes and now I'm back.
Is a mere decision powerful enough to secure an opportunity? This (first blank) page, represents the opportunity. I made the decision to write my first post despite the lack of beforehand planning and preparation and I must say, I was quite proud. However, all of that would be pointless if I didn't get my 10 fingers working to write whatever this is.
We've all heard of how important putting in the work is, and as a perfectionist I often find myself asking why. I understand that taking action and embracing an unknown environment is the best way to learn and understand a new subject and yet I hardly find myself doing just that. In my personal development class I can go on and on about how proactivity is the way to go, but do I truly believe in it? More importantly, do I need to believe in it?
One might argue that when someone has a firm belief, they are motivated to take action aligned with that belief. For example, religious people confide in god and follow what is deemed to be 'right' while atheists will follow what they personally deem to be 'right' because they do not believe in god. We can clearly see a pattern of belief leading to action that is supported and rooted in said belief.
Now let's look at something a bit different: Suzy, a hypothetical drug addict.
Currently, Suzy consistently consumes drugs, which means whether or not she believes it's morally right, she believes that it is the 'right' answer to her desire and issues. However, I highly doubt that when she first tried drugs, she believed it was right in any manner. Research shows that 70% of those who use drugs under the age of 13, grow up to become drug addicts. Trying drugs at 13 or under is of course motivated strongly by an external or internal force such as peer pressure, family issues, or even curiosity. But the possibility of the existence of a strong belief regarding this matter is highly unlikely at this age. Therefore, in this case, an action has led to a belief. The action was motivated by a force that isn't in Suzy's belief system.
This post for me is the first drug, up until now I have always told myself and others that taking action is more important than daydreaming and planning, but my inner belief remains the opposite whether or not I admit it. Every now and then, I do certain activities that defy this unhealthy yet strong belief and get closer to building a new one, which is proactivity and jumping in when I'm scared. So the answer to my question, "Do I need to believe in it?", is not really. I have come to understand that it is not always belief that leads to action, sometimes the compulsive action of writing an unprepared blog post is all someone needs to achieve a goal. All I needed was an overwhelmed mind to make a sudden decision and then let my fingers write while I try not to hold them back and BAM! This page is no longer blank.
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