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