How to Achieve Your Goal

Overwhelmed Creatives is a multi-part series that teaches you the causes of overwhelm, and exactly what you can do to get out of overwhelm and into your creative power. Check out the series here. 

Massive Action vs. Passive Action

Massive Action is action we take and continue to take until we reach our goal. It includes anticipating obstacles, being willing to fail repeatedly, feel all the feelings that come up, experiment, and keep taking action until you reach your goal. 

Passive action is all the things you do to prepare for action. Studying, taking courses, listening, reading, planning, researching, and even thinking. This all seems very *productive* but it actually keeps you from reaching your goal. These actions don’t lead you to the results that you most want. 

PASSIVE ACTION HAS TO DO WITH CONSUMPTION, MASSIVE ACTION HAS TO DO WITH CREATING.

Most people try, fail once, stop, pivot, try something else, fail, and give up. They don’t test something and keep trying until it works — they try once, decide they’ll never be able to do it, and quit when it doesn’t work. This is action, but not massive action. 

Massive action is when you are so focused on your goal that you’re willing to do what it takes to achieve it. You’re willing to feel uncomfortable and keep taking action anyway. You keep trying every lock combination until one day the combination works and the lock clicks open. You don’t give up until you reach your goal.

Passive action does not involve risk. It is a way to ‘stay safe’ and hide, stay in planning mode, and avoid failure. But! Can you see how passive action actually causes you to fail? Because you will never actually be able to achieve your goal with your passive actions. This is the biggest reason why creatives don’t ‘make it’. That’s the secret. It’s not because some people are special and you’re not. It is simply because the people who make it are willing to put themselves in harm’s way — they’re willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.   

Massive action often involves embarrassing moments in front of an audience. It involves failing in ways people can see. And that’s okay, because when you’re all in on your goal and massive action, you’re willing to feel whatever feeling comes up and KEEP GOING so you can achieve your goal.

Thought Work

• Where in your business or goal do you think you are taking passive action, or consuming, instead of taking massive action?
• How might massive action would be more useful to you than passive action?
• What is an example of a massive action that you could take toward one of your current goals?

READY TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR CREATIVE CONFIDENCE?

If fear and doubt are holding you back, apply to my coaching program where I give you the tools you need to show up with unshakeable self-belief and confidence so you can create and contribute in ways you KNOW you are capable of.