Begin Anew

Think now, not future you

Don't think how you want to be in the future - just be them now.

When you feel the desire to check your phone, reject the urge. Don't check.

If you want to do more work, do some work now.

Want more sleep? Close your eyes.

My point is change only happens in the present and by doing concrete actions.

No amount of feelings or planning will change anything.

Spending hours fantasizing how your ideal self is and how you plan to make that happen - means nothing if you don't take action.

The moment you feel you want to change, change then.

That initial feeling is all the guidance and motivation you need. Once you take action, you'll build confidence and momentum, and the next step and the next will be easier and easier.

And through action comes clarity.

Each time we take actions towards the person we want to be, the further down the forest path we walk. The path unfolds itself as we go along.

But you would not know all the bends and turns just by waiting at the entrance.

Nor would you build the courage to go if you didn't have the confidence of the first step.

The first step reminds us "oh, I've done something similar before, it's just like that, I can do that again - and again, and again".

And so confidence and competence is born.

By taking action we build undeniable proof we are who we say we are.

And that proof gives us power to act again and the skill to succeed. Each time the behavior is reinforced and reenacted, we lower the cost to act again. And eventually the cost becomes minimal or nonexistent and the behavior becomes second nature to us, unconsciously apart of who we are.

That is when a new identity is formed.

After enough actions, we identify as that kind of person, because that is just the kind of person we are.

An identity is not created by some esoteric magical wanting, but it is build and reinforced by the thousands of actions proceeding it.

So just act. Now.