Ready to learn a powerful idea for working and living better?
As a career coach, I’ve seen countless talented, mid-career professionals facing a common struggle: they are at a point in their career where success isn’t enough because they no longer derive pleasure or fulfilment from their work. If you’re feeling burnt out, frustrated, or simply stuck in the grind, this message is for you!
I want to introduce you to a powerful concept I like to call ‘Mood Follows Action’.
Many of us wait for inspiration to strike, to wait until we ‘feel’ like doing something before we actually do it. Even for tasks that we know are important and will really help move us towards our goals.
But what if we’ve got it all backwards? What if action creates inspiration?
Crazy? Maybe. But it works!
Instead of waiting for the perfect moment or mood to start something, we should leap into action. Even when we don’t feel like it (especially then!). By doing so, we create the momentum that can shift our mood, mindset, and ultimately, our trajectory.
Think about it: How often have you procrastinated on a task because you ‘weren’t in the mood’, but once you started, you found the energy and motivation you thought was missing? That’s ‘Mood Follows Action’ in action! It happens to me all the time.
Sometimes I feel bad for not having made progress on a task that was important to me, and it is approaching the end of the day. I feel ready to just ‘check out’, to sit and relax with a glass of wine and an interesting book to read. I am ready to unplug from the day. There are days felt that way, but decided to just get started working on the important task. And I typically discover that after I get going, I feel better. Making progress inspires me to keep going, and I end up feeling so much better!
So, here’s a challenge for you: Pick one thing you’ve been putting off due to lack of inspiration or motivation. That could mean updating your CV, learning a new skill, reaching out to someone in your network, or even applying for a new role. Start working on it today, not tomorrow or next week.
You might just surprise yourself with how quickly your mood can change and how this shift can create a wave of motivation and inspiration that drives further action.
It is critical to remember that no one can change your career except you. The longer you procrastinate on taking action to move into work that you love, the longer you stay stuck where you are, feeling dissatisfied. Taking action is the answer, and you can’t afford to sit back any longer, waiting for inspiration. You need to create that inspiration through action!
If you’re keen to explore this concept further and apply it to your career transition, I would be thrilled to guide you through this transformative process. Let’s break your procrastination cycle and create a roadmap to transform your career! It is time to reclaim your working life and make it work for you again.
Schedule your FREE call here: https://calendly.com/timparkins/initial-consultation
I am excited to talk about you and help get you to a place where you are thrilled to be doing the work that you do.
Quotation that I have been pondering
There is a popular expression, ‘fake it until you make it’. This is more powerful of an idea than you may realize. There is a quote from the writer Kurt Vonnegut that nicely captures this idea;
When you act like a ‘person who does x’, you provide yourself with evidence that you are indeed a ‘person who does x’. You are creating your identity using a self-reinforcing cycle.
You are creating your identity intentionally, rather than unconsciously. Which allows you the freedom to recreate yourself as you desire to be.
Powerful stuff!
Journal Prompt
True empowerment lies in recognizing that you are the architect of your own reality. The decisions you make, consciously or unconsciously, shape the circumstances you find yourself in. The moment you stop blaming external factors and take personal responsibility for your life, we reclaim your power.
This is not about self-blame; it’s an invitation for introspection and change. This week’s journal prompt is about taking personal responsibility for where your career is at:
Please jot down whatever thoughts come up for you, without judgement. The answer might be the first step towards a transformative shift.
Have an amazing week! And please remember that you can’t afford to stay in a job that you resent. You need to start taking action to reclaim your working life.
As always, I would love feedback or ideas for future content. Feel free to reach out to me at tim@timparkins.com!
Tim
