Talk is cheap. There are times that I can focus more on talking than actually doing anything. I talk about the things that I want to do, but I don’t take any action towards accomplishing those things. I admit the things I talk about are generally the things that I am most passionate about, but then I will talk about it so much, or I get lost in research on a topic that I don’t make forward movement on what I’m interested in doing.
Part of the research thing is a personality thing. I love research, facts, statistics and learning. Knowing that is who I am, I have to set some limits and set timers so that I am aware of how much time is passing when I start looking into facts and information and opinions. I have to limit myself, or I will never move into action.
However, when it comes to talking, I also have to learn to focus myself. I need to share my passion, ask my questions, and then I need to get moving. The world is full of good intentions, but if I am going to capture the perfect timing for my purpose, I have to move into action. Talking has a purpose for connection, but when it comes to focus I must talk less and act more.
I remember early in my Social Work career I participated as a board member for a nonprofit and they loved to talk. Meeting after meeting we would talk about action items, but little progress seemed to get made. It frustrated me beyond measure because I know I could not “save the world” by talking with the same people week after week about the same thing. I was so antsy, I took on a project of compiling all the county resources into one location because I needed to do something.
Yet there are other times, that I have joined in with the talking and allowed myself to complete little to no actions in making progress. Too many opportunities can pass me by if my focus is on talking and not on action. I have to be willing to talk with others, because my purpose is bigger than myself. I also have to follow-up that talking with action. And the action should be equal to or greater than the talking.
This blog is part of a #Write31Days series on Focus with prompts by #FMFParty. Write 31 Days is an online writing challenge, where bloggers pick one topic and write a post on that topic every day. Five Minute Fridays provides prompts and encourages writers to free write for five minutes on the prompt.
Restoring Voice 