I catch myself asking myself this question often. Most of the time it involves me doing research into something and going on and on, video after video, Google search after Google search. You know what I’m talking about, right? You’re probably doing it right now and that’s how you came across this post.

It hit me that the reason I haven’t gotten really far, but I feel like I’m putting in a lot of effort and am tired of trying but still feel stuck is simply and truly because I’m not directly taking action. That’s it. It never matters how much money I’ve invested, or how much time I’ve spent on researching something. I actually don’t do anything.

I’ll give you an example:
I have been interested in starting a YouTube channel for the better part of a decade now. I’ve experimented and created some videos over the years but I haven’t really hit my stride in being able to create something of substance that I’m genuinely proud of. Whenever I feel like I have all these ideas and all of this motivation, it doesn’t materialize. Not because I lack skill, but because I lack the discipline to execute these creative endeavours. I wanted to start a photography channel, that didn’t work because I didn’t practice BEING a photographer. I didn’t go out and work with models for portraits often. I didn’t go out and take pictures of nature and landscapes as much as I could have. I spent most of my time within my comfort zone. I would get my girlfriend to drive, and we’d take the same route, and I’d hang out in the car with my camera because I was shy and scared to be seen with it in public. I would watch video after video for creative ideas on what to take pictures of inside, then I would get frustrated that all my pictures looked the same because I’m not actually capturing anything different. I’d sit in my computer chair hoping and wishing that I would have this big photography YouTube channel, but I wasn’t actually going out and using my creativity and doing what photographers do which is take pictures.

It’s a really obvious thing when you look at it in a wider scope. Looking back and actually stopping for a while made me start to evaluate my life. This just comes with age. You grow up, you realize how dumb you were when you were younger, and then, hopefully, you have the courage to pick up what you loved in the past and actually run with it. The biggest thing you actually have to do for the evaluation though is be honest with yourself. You can’t hide in your comfort zone because you’ll reach a point in your life where that just isn’t acceptable anymore. Once you realize that you can change it, the rest of your life begins.

This isn’t rocket science, but it is complicated. You’re dealing with yourself and I’m not trying to take a jab, but it’s true. You know yourself better than anybody else so the relationship you have with yourself matters the most. Work on that, and you’ll build up the confidence to know that when you face something difficult, you can trust that you’ll have the will to follow through and be the person that takes action. This isn’t a tutorial to show you how to do it. Truth is, there can never be a tutorial to teach you how to do whatever it is you want to do (unless there is, then I’m lying, but what I’m trying to say is that no one can make your path for you, you have you to do it yourself to be truly happy) because you’re the person that has to figure that out for you. My suggestion is take some time to yourself. Truly rest. There doesn’t need to be any drastic changes, but just slow your life down, and simplify things for a bit. Declutter things that are of no use to you anymore and in a sense, start fresh. If you want to be free like a bird, you have to let go of everything weighing you down. Take that however you will.

Good luck, friend. Talk soon.