When In Doubt, Just Take The Next Small Step 

The 2nd Life Lesson from Regina Brett.

I like this lesson’s call for action, but then I am reminded of what Oprah Winfrey often says, “When in doubt, don’t.”

To analyze both let’s look at the doubt by asking if this doubt stems from something “I think I could or shouldn’t do?”

These two intelligent ladies give advice that is very different, yet both very good.

If a weird feeling emerges, that gut feeling that says, “I shouldn’t do it”, then don’t do it. Far too many people go against their better judgment and go ahead and do “it”, only later to say, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that.”  If doubt is stemming from thinking I should or shouldn’t, I have to agree with Oprah -

                    “When in doubt, don’t.”

The suggestion Regina Brett is making is to take action, even if it is a very small step. This advice works well when we ask, “Could I?” If we doubt whether we could/couldn’t do something, the best way to find out if we can is to -

Take the next small step.

In 2003, Sheila Tidwell and I wondered if we could make a living as real estate investors. The best thing we did to answer that question was attend a seminar about wealth building and buying investment property. It was a small step in the right direction. From attending the seminar we met a couple that eventually became our mentors. They taught us how to buy investment property with no money down, and over the years we’ve been able to buy over 100 properties. We couldn’t do what we are doing today if we hadn’t taken that small step.

In 2009 when the thought, “I think I’ll write a book” came to me I have to admit I asked myself,

“Can I write a book?”

I had doubt since I wasn’t a good student in school, and I didn’t like to read until I was almost 40 years old. Very doubtful that I could write a book, I did the obvious-I took the next small step and starting writing. Another thing I did was attend a writer’s seminar, “Write to the Bank” by Dan Miller. Had I listened to doubt, Thinking Consciously Rocks! would never have happened. The three years it took me to write my first book were some of the toughest years of my life. I am so thankful I took action because my life will never be the same. Writing my book was exceptionally cathartic and I learned how to harness the Power I have inside. The same Power we all have. This Power allowed me to forgive the murderer of my brother Carl, and  forgive myself for giving my Power away for so long. I learned how to enjoy life and recognized all there is to be grateful for.

The lesson of When In Doubt, Don’t works best when we have that bad gut feeling. Then other times it does me good when I am in doubt to ask myself if I could or should?  Which is why Lesson 2 resonated with me today, When In Doubt, Just Take The Next Small Step.

3 of my favorite quotations on ACTION:

1. When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” ~ Confucius
2. Never confuse motion with action. ~ Benjamin Franklin
3. An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Regina has a store on Cafe Press. She sells merchandise based on her 50 Life Lessons. Click here for When In Doubt, Just Take The Next Small Step merchandise at Regina Brett’s Cafe Press store.