| Recently, I read some articles by two of my | | | | read etc. If your house is cluttered, stop |
| favourite self-help gurus, Chris Widener and | | | | feeling overwhelmed by it all and take action |
| Mike Brescia, which inspired me to write | | | | to sell or give away or even throw away |
| about three words beginning with the letter | | | | unnecessary items.The next key word is |
| 'A'. These words have nothing to do with | | | | 'again'. Accept the fact that repetition is |
| alcohol or cars.The three words 'Act, Again | | | | the mother of progress and positive habits. |
| and Anyway' can remind us of three powerful | | | | Understand the fact that some actions need to |
| ideas which usually accompany success.Human | | | | be taken again and again and again and again |
| beings can both think in some detail and can | | | | until they have become skills or habitsMike |
| take massive action focused on a particular | | | | Brescia mentions a great hockey coach who led |
| goal unlike many animals. However, too many | | | | the USA hockey team to victory against a more |
| humans do not keep the right balance between | | | | experienced and more skilful Russian team in |
| thinking and acting.Some are dynamos who love | | | | 1980. The coach's favourite word was 'again'. |
| to take action but their actions often lead | | | | In other words, practise that skill again and |
| up blind alleys or take you in the wrong | | | | again until you can perform it with your eyes |
| direction. You all know the scenario where | | | | shut.Some of my martial arts students |
| you have been given a lift and gradually both | | | | practise their forms or patterns again and |
| you and the driver realize that neither of | | | | again until they know them well and can make |
| you have studied the maps thoroughly enough.I | | | | their techniques look effective and powerful. |
| once ended up going north in the UK when I | | | | Others need to learn about the word 'again'. |
| should have been going south. On this | | | | They can just about manage to stagger through |
| occasion, my dynamic friend who was driving | | | | the form with hesitations and pauses for |
| majored on action but flunked on planning. He | | | | remembrance. They have stopped practising too |
| kept up a steady sixty miles an hour driving | | | | soon and need to learn how to put up with the |
| on intuition and a very vague knowledge of | | | | boredom of repetition.Affirmations will only |
| the route. Fortunately, I spotted the signs | | | | work if they are repeated. Without |
| to Newcastle when we should have been viewing | | | | repetition, they will not enter the |
| signs to Dover and the south.We did an about | | | | subconscious mind and start affecting your |
| turn and eventually reached home in Kent! We | | | | daily actions. Too many people want instant |
| had a good laugh at the time but might not | | | | results and will do anything to avoid |
| have been so merry if we had actually ended | | | | boredom. They soon give up on their daily |
| up in Newcastle.On the other hand, you have | | | | affirmations.The third word 'anyway' is one |
| people who never leave home because they | | | | of my favourites. When the doubts arise about |
| spend too much time worrying about the best | | | | any action that you are not keen to take, |
| routes. These people think too much and plan | | | | take action 'anyway' and decide after the |
| too much. The same happens in any activity | | | | action has been taken whether it was |
| whether it is driving or going in to | | | | worthwhile or not.When I do not feel like |
| business. Some people think too much and | | | | going for a walk but I take action and walk |
| never act and others act without thinking.On | | | | 'anyway', I am always glad that I walked. The |
| the whole, it is probably better to have a | | | | benefits of walking had been clouded |
| bias towards action rather than thinking. At | | | | temporarily by a feeling of lethargy.Last |
| least, if you act, you can find out that you | | | | weekend, I did not feel like attending a |
| are going the wrong way and take corrective | | | | martial arts seminar. I attended 'anyway' and |
| action. If you just think, nothing much | | | | learned some incredibly useful principles and |
| happens.It is at the least arguable that not | | | | techniques. The seminar was worthwhile to say |
| enough thought and planning took place before | | | | the least and I could so easily have missed |
| Iraq was invaded. The UN majored on thinking | | | | out on it. I am going to another seminar next |
| and talking while the USA and UK majored on | | | | weekend and then two 'boot camps' late in |
| action. A little more communication between | | | | November and early December.I will probably |
| the two groups might have improved the | | | | not feel like going and concentrating for |
| chances of a happy outcome.My computer | | | | several days on end but, if I go 'anyway', I |
| trouble shooter, Danny Burke, reckons that | | | | can almost guarantee I will not regret it. Of |
| action should take up 75% of our time and | | | | course, there may be an occasional seminar |
| thinking should take up 25%. Certainly, it is | | | | which turns out to be a waste of time but you |
| worth reading some at least of the | | | | will never know until you take action and go |
| instructions before trying to install some | | | | 'anyway'.Test the power of the triple 'A's if |
| software or hardware on your computer!Taking | | | | you do not already do so and see for yourself |
| action can relieve stress. If you are worried | | | | what a difference these three words, 'act, |
| about something, taking action of some sort | | | | again and anyway', can make in your life. |
| right now can relieve the anxiety. Are you | | | | Take action; embrace repetition and do it |
| worrying about being in debt? Take action and | | | | anyway. |
| buy less. Cancel all the magazines you never | | | | |