I'm feeling rather lazy at the moment...its 5.40pm, and I know I should be studying....but I just don't really feel like it. SO, instead of just sitting in front of my computer, visiting the same websites I visited 10 minutes ago and reading the same things I read...I figured this would be a good time if any to do today's quote! I decided to go back and quote Ralph Waldo Emerson again...solely because the underlying message of this quote 'action' is something I think I need right now...
SO, "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory". This is a very, very good saying, solely because it is absolutely true. There isn't much to really dig into for this quote, but its meaning comes through everyday in anything we choose to do.
The quote refers to situations when, despite all the thinking of, planning of and discussing of doing something, it never materialises simply because we never take action on it. People tend to mistake thinking about something, or planning something for actually doing something; it actually isn't. The truth is, its only once we move past the planning stage and actually start do something that actually has an effect towards accomplishing our ultimate goal that we can be said to actually be 'taking action'. That sounds very obvious, but one would be suprised as to how often it happens.
The simple example could be a thin man who wants to go to the gym to gain some muscle. SO, he starts looking through his work schedule, looking for free time so he can go to the gym. He starts cruising through the mall and the net, looking for the best protein powders to buy so he can bulk up. He starts looking for gym memberships, for the best prices and the best rates. He starts looking up exercise guides so he can perform optimally in the gym...and so on and so forth. Now...here is the thing. He actually hasn't DONE anything. He has the illusion that he is taking action on his goal by going out, and looking and planning, and so on...but he has actually DONE nothing.
Now it could be argued that he's actually taking action by planning out how to best workout...but I'm not too sure about that. Because everything he has been doing up till that point hasn't actually done anything to his muscles. Its only when he has his hands wrapped around those iron bars and he's pumping them with all his strength can he be said to be taking action on his goal of gaining some muscle.
I'm actually finding this notion a little harder to explain than I anticipated. But I suppose my point is, we must all take action on our goals. Until we actually DO something that puts us on a firm path towards achieving our goals, something that beyond the point of return (for example say...paying a 2 year gym membership?) and cannot be retracted, because if not up till that point all we that we have been doing exists only in our minds.
We hear very often that people who 'get things done' are the ones who get hired, promoted and are generally successful in everything they do. And its absolutely true, simply because thats what they do - they take the necessary steps and actions in order to achieve something. This is in contrast to somebody who speaks about getting something done, but in the end does NOT do what is necessary to get them done. Such a person is all flash and no substance. And such a person, because his perceived actions actually achieve nothing except fruitless planning and talking, will never achieve what his goals are.
So, conclusion: If we want to get something done, we have to do something about it. Something concrete, something that is past the point of no return, something that forces our commitment. That is what action is.
As for me, I've got to take action and get off this computer chair, get my dinner ready and get that textbook in front of my eyes so I can study for my exams. As always, anybody who reads this is free to speak out about what you think is correct, wrong, and offer up your opinions on what said quote could mean. Until next time,
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Thank you!
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