How good are you at taking action?
Episode 9 of Part 1 of our Introduction series: Setting the stage for success.
Habits: Action oriented | Little and regular
Skills: Action | Responsibility
Description: This episode introduces the importance of taking action when it comes to achieving your goals, or any form of success. We introduce the habits of being action oriented, and little and regular, and explain how it might be fear that's preventing you from taking action... or your brain!
How this lesson might be discussed with your child
This episode introduces to key habits, both of which are helpful in the support of taking action – a necessary skill if you want to achieve anything:
Action oriented – the habit of choosing to take action (any action) over simply thinking but never acting.
Little and regular – the habit of taking small, consistent steps toward a goal.
We also outline the role that fear plays in preventing anyone from taking action, along with the emotional brain response when you're focusing on something difficult, which is often to disengage your focus and draw your attention toward something more enjoyable.
Possible discussion questions include:
Have you ever had the experience of learning something new and found it difficult to focus?
Were your thoughts drawing your attention to something more enjoyable to do?
What are your thoughts about fear stopping you from taking action? Do you think that's correct?
What types of fear do you think could stop you from taking action on something important?
Have you ever experienced any of these fears?
Have they stopped you from taking action on something?
Do you think you're an action oriented person? Why/Why not?
What things do you do now that could be described as a little and regular habit?
What little and regular actions could you take to achieve something important?
Some specific discussion points
Focusing on individuals and how the habits of action oriented, and little and regular have been applied, provides and opportunity to discuss some of the following questions:
Who can you think of that represents the habit of being action oriented? Why this person?
How has being action oriented helped this person in life?
Has being action oriented ever caused any problems for them?
What are the pros and cons of being action oriented?
Who can you think of that makes little and regular a focus of their behaviours? Why this person?
How has a little and regular habit helped this person in life?
Has the little and regular habit ever caused any problems for them?
What are the pros and cons of having a little and regular habit?
Discussing the quote from this episode:
"Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it." — Jules Renard
Possible areas of discussion may include:
Do you believe 'everything you want is out there waiting for you'? Why/Why not?
Do you know what 'everything you want' looks like for you?
What action do you think you would need to take to get everything you want?
Do you think anyone has received everything they want without taking action?
When you think of a very successful person, how much action do you think they took to achieve their success?
Further information on this topic
If you'd like to dive a bit deeper on this topic, you might be interested in watching:
Or you might like to read:
Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence
by Daniel Goleman, 2013.
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success and Happiness.
by Jeff Olson, 2005.