Doing the Work: Embracing Small Right Actions
I’d like to think that to some degree, we all want the transformation - the thriving health, the peace of mind, the fulfilling relationships, the abundant life. But the hard Truth is that the journey to becoming the version of ourselves we dream of is filled with mundane, repetitive, and sometimes uncomfortable steps.
I know. It sounds like it sucks.
This is the essence of doing the work: showing up, even when it’s inconvenient, unglamorous, or challenging, and especially, when you don’t feel like it.
True progress isn’t built on grand gestures but on small, consistent actions that align with our highest intentions and goals. Actions that align with who we want to become, not with who we are right now.
Small Right Actions are POWERFUL
Change is daunting when viewed as a giant mountain to climb. However, when we break it down into small, manageable steps, it becomes much more achievable. When we focus on the steps, we focus on the climb, instead of the mountain itself.
Small Right Actions are those little things that align with our goals and values. They might seem insignificant at the moment, but over time, they compound into extraordinary results!
For instance:
Reaching for a glass of water instead of soda
Spending five minutes journaling to process your thoughts
Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
Saying one kind word to yourself in the mirror
Writing down what you’re grateful to start your day
Reading a set amount of pages or chapters in personal development every day
Winding down the night with a stretch and a meditation instead of crashing into the sheets at the last minute
Hitting a protein, water, or veggie goal
The list could go on forever. Each of these actions may feel trivial on their own, but when done repeatedly, they create momentum.
Small Right Actions build the habits that will carry you to your desired outcome.
The Secret to Staying Focused? Embrace the Process
Too often, we become fixated on the results we crave: the number on the scale, the promotion, the perfectly decorated home, the healed nervous system, the following, the business, the relationship…
While having goals is important, attaching all your joy and motivation to an outcome can lead to burnout, frustration, and even giving up entirely. It’s also important to remember that something like black and white thinking can only hinder your experience. The journey is never all-or-nothing.
Shift your focus to the PROCESS. The Journey.
I say it all the time but, the journey is what is meant to be achieved.
Find satisfaction in the act of showing up for yourself. Celebrate the journey, even when it feels messy or incomplete. And most importantly, KEEP. GOING.
This mindset isn’t just about enduring the work—it’s about embracing it. Growth happens in those moments when we choose to stay consistent, even when our progress feels slow, and especially when we “don’t feel like” doing the work to stay consistent.
Doing It Even When You Don’t Feel Like It
Motivation is not only fleeting, it’s bullshit. On some days, you’ll wake up energized and ready to tackle your goals. But on many others, the will to take action will be buried under warm covers, fatigue, doubt, cramps, headaches, irritation, or a sheer lack of desire.
This is where commitment steps in.
When you commit to doing the work, you act not because you feel like it, but because you’ve decided it’s what you do.
This is POWERFUL. This is the power of discipline over motivation. Discipline reminds you of your “WHY” when the initial excitement has faded. It helps you to:
Push through a morning workout when your bed feels like heaven
Prep nourishing meals when takeout seems easier
Start that difficult conversation with a loved one when avoidance feels safer
Book the therapy appointment when numbing feels less painful than healing
Every time you honor your commitment over your fleeting emotions, you strengthen your integrity, and you build trust with your Self. Doing the work proves to yourself that you are someone who follows through - and that is a gift that builds self-trust and confidence!
The Byproducts of Doing
Ironically, many people wait for inspiration or motivation to strike before they act.
Don’t be those people.
Inspiration often comes after you start. Motivation comes from building momentum. It is in the doing that you spark creativity, energy, and excitement.
The next time you feel stuck or unmotivated, try this:
Pick a small action aligned with your goal
Set a timer for just five minutes
Start - without expectation or judgment
And if you need a little extract help, or a neuro-hack, trying Mel Robbins’ 5-4-3-2-1. Countdown from 5, and just, LAUNCH.
You’ll be amazed at how much momentum you can build simply by beginning.
And Remember…You Are Worth the Work!
Doing the work is not about perfection. It’s about progress. It’s about showing up, day after day, to create the life you desire.
Even on the hard days.
Even when it feels pointless.
Every small, intentional step you take is proof of your resilience, your determination, and your belief and commitment in yourself.
Remember: the transformation you seek doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in those small, seemingly insignificant moments - moments that ultimately change everything.
So lace up your shoes, make the call, write the first word. Do the work.
Because you are worth it.
Be well,
L
