When we’re stuck in indecision, procrastinating about deciding, we’ve imprisoned ourselves. What is typically locking up our action is that we’re hoping everything will magically align in some perfect way. We’re also resisting compromise, accepting partial solutions or progress. The ideal, perfect scenario we’re imagining will likely be forever elusive. Life is uncertain and it takes a certain kind of wisdom to keep moving forward, trusting that things will be fine, whatever choices we make.
Wanting everything to be perfect before we act, denies the fact that action, not just planning, is how we get what we want. We all realize how ridiculous procrastination is if we think of it this way: Recall all you’ve done for work throughout your entire life. Envision the intricacies involved with handling your day-to-day responsibilities and all you learned from trial and error doing your job, day in and out. Now imagine interviewing a 22-year-old who’s telling you that they can handle your job. Silly, right? Of course it is. The newbie may be book-smart but they lack deep experience: They are ignorant of the foundation of actions and intricacies of knowing a role, built by a lifetime of showing up, learning and doing the work.
Life passes whether we choose to participate and act—or stay locked up in indecision. There never was and never will be a perfect time to resolve a problem all at once until we make the bold decision to act. Chipping away, we reduce challenges facing us: Finding the things we can act upon, making problems smaller and manageable while setting reachable goals. Waiting for everything to be perfect according to imaginary plans, keeps us locked up in inertia.
At any and every stage of life, we can only create what we want by giving ourselves permission to keep taking little steps forward, moving in the direction we want to go. Action is the key.
© Dian Griesel 2025
