Act despite what you feel
Do what matters, even when it’s uncomfortable.
We usually hit the gym on Tuesday nights because staying fit and healthy matters to us. But after a brutal day at work, we’re drained, and all we want is to collapse on the couch and zone out in front of a screen. We tell ourselves we’ll speak up in meetings because sharing our ideas is something we care about, yet when the moment comes, fear grabs us and we want to stay quiet. So what will we do: act on our feelings, or act on what matters?
When we experience a particular feeling, we tend to act in a way that matches it. A tendency means we are more likely to do something, but it doesn't mean we have to. Our feelings don’t control what we do. We can choose to act differently. For example, when we're angry, we might feel like yelling and clenching our fists, but we can choose to speak calmly and keep our hands relaxed. Or when we're anxious, we might feel like avoiding a task, but we can choose to move forward anyway.
Acting despite our feelings is like crossing a rope bridge. We step forward, even as the swaying of the bridge makes us anxious.
Since we can control our actions, we can still do things that matter, regardless of how we feel. Acting on what’s important to us is rewarding, even if it means facing our fears. Living by our purpose and values brings both pleasant and unpleasant feelings. You can’t have one without the other. Each time we act on what matters, even if we don’t feel like it, we strengthen our confidence, resilience, and sense of purpose. That is why it’s important to accept unpleasant feelings instead of trying to fight them, and to remember that even small steps toward what matters count.
When our feelings pull us in a unwanted direction, the question to ask ourselves is:
🤔 Will I act on my feelings, or on what matters?
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