1 Silly Question That Banishes Inactivity Once And For All

"I have used this same question with my children when they ask for help with homework or a problem they are going through. My daughters may say, "Dad, I don't know how to do this math problem. Can you help me?" My response is, "But if you did know, what would you do?" Many times they are able to work themselves through to a solution. Great question which always leads to great results."

"Love it, Andy!"

"Andy, ever since I first watched "The Seven Daily Decisions" a few years ago, I have drawn upon this question many times. When I feel that state of inertia coming as a result of my uncertainty or analysis paralysis, I hear your voice saying, "Well, but what if you DID KNOW what to do...then what would you do? Remember, NOT doing anything is STILL A DECISION. Just DO SOMETHING and more clarity...more answers...will come." THANK YOU!"

"A strategy I use to push through inactivity and force myself to act is to set a timer for ten minutes. Then I work until the timer goes off.

For instance, if I have some writing I need to get done, but want to put off, I set my timer and tell myself to just write for ten minutes. I find getting started is the hard part, but I can do anything for ten minutes. After the ten minutes is up, I almost always continue writing until I'm done or have at least made some good progress."

"Wow, inactivity? Really? LOL YEARS ago as we were getting ready to leave the Children's home we had been working as houseparents, I was told I was going to be so bored I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I'm still waiting! My husband's job requires him to travel so I basically raised our 4 kids by myself - one with major learning disabilities and a rare form of asthma and cluster migranes from the age of 8. I also worked full time as an interior designer and taught Bible classes at our church in addition to organizing meals to needy families at a couple of them (we've moved many times over the years) and also planned activities for younger kids at church. About the time I thought I might be getting close to "boredom" we had to frequently take custody of our grandkids - that took place over 10 years. Now, when I don't have the kids or grandkids to worry about, I'm disabled but keep busy doing things for the kids 6th grade and under at church and helping with the college group. I also quilt blankets for each of the grandkids....... boredom? LOL I don't think it will ever find me! :)"

"Andy,

I am so thrilled to see how many people you have touched because you are such a good human (I truly believe that!). But, you shunned me at an event that has affected me and am having a difficult time forgiving. Keep up your wonderful trek!!!"

"In Feb. 2000 my daughter, Lena Rae died from congestive heart failure at age 29. She was also a person with an Intellectual Disability whom I served as her "voice" in her lifetime as a volunteer advocate for her rights for "A Life Like Yours!". For two years after her passing I was numb and asked God many times why her and not me. She was the perfect example of "Pure Joy!" She loved people and always had a smile on her face and she figured other people loved her as much as she loved them. How do you replace that in your life??? So I finally asked the question, "What do I do now?" I looked around at the world and realized it was still not a very friendly place for people like my daughter, so I decided to go out and find the people or organization that were actually making a difference. Since 2002 I have been steadily and actively working to at least make my local community and state a better place for people with ID/DD to live. I truly believe in the "Butterfly Effect" and my life has proven it over and over. Andy has made me a believer!!! Just follow his advice and the world will be a better place for us ALL!"

"I enjoyed Thanksgiving Day last year by getting away to the beach. It was my time!
My time to walk the Gulf Coast, eat, relax, and catch up on reading. I choose The Noticer as the book too read. After reading this book I was wanting to do something...but what. I prayed that I would soon be able to find an opportunity to be a little bit of a Jones. Checking my emails I noticed a prayer request for someone I did not know that was in the hospital. This hospital was a little out of my way headed back to Alabama but I thought, Hey this is it.
I met Johnny who was struggling with cancer. I guess we could argue all day whos day was blessed the most. We talked of the wonderful hope we have through our Lord. Johnny passed away a few weeks later. What a vacation! Opportunity abounds when we are serious about noticing."

"Enjoyed your last book, "How to Kill 11 million People...".

One thing NOT to do when you are not sure what to do is: doing nothing and thinking negative thoughts.

Some things to do when you are not sure what what to do: Keep busy (motion creates positve emotions, exercise regularly to get your body and mind in shape, associate with positive materials (read good books, be around upward and positive people, minimize or eliminate TV watching especially the news), think on paper by writing down plans and goals...

JR Felisilda
Author of the book, "Nanay: Lessons from a Mother""

"A wise person once told me while sticking his finger in my face in the Winn Dixie pharmacy....PERSIST!! At moments of indecision, I have remembered that and pressed on."

"Keep faith in God..He often does His best work with our worst choices."

"My dad's words have been "Well. I'm going to do something even if it's wrong." There are times when we can't possibly know which path is best to take in life because we can't see the future. But as we move forward and test the waters, we can respond to what we find. I like to say "God can only direct a person in motion." If we sit still and do nothing, how can we ever know what might work?"

"For me, a schedule is critical. There are so many things that I want to get done that I would never begin if I didn't schedule something. Sometimes it is a tiny chore, but once I do it, I find another something. That keeps my days as a retiree full and does some good for someone."

"I live my passion! I review the things that interest me and how I want to spend my day. We work so much of our life, so I stay focused on who I am as a person and what things in life make me happy. I am self made, despite having survived Lymphoma, living with multiple sclerosis for over 20 years and having young children. I created a company one dime at a time, so that I could live every day focused on joy, love, giving back and being with friends (my staff). It hasn't been easy, but I see the big picture and I have grown successful businesses in the past 7 years! Know yourself, create the enviroment you want to live in and find the career that will support that and your passions at the same time. Stay focused, be driven, the answers are out there....go and find the experts and use their knowledge to create your dreams!
Caitlyn,
Owner
Renaissance Fine Jewelry and Renaissance Fine Antiques of New England."

"We can often find motivation through learning. When I do not know what to do I read, this always inspires to " Do Something".

Believe and You Shall Receive"

"There are so many people who need our help, and when we ask the Lord who to serve He will show us. We spent 32 years raising our 5 children and when our youngest married I went to college and graduated with my degree in counseling when I was 59. I applied for non-profit status in 1999 & in 2009 the ministry bought a building and we started a home for adult pregnant woman. I am 74 and love what I am doing. When we have the maternity home paid for we want to buy a buiIding to help divorced woman. I have read all of Andy's books, except the latest one, and it is hard to pick a favorite, but everyone needs to read Mastering the Seven Decisions."

"Actually, the best answer for this question for me is to pray. I have been at this break in the road and done exactly this. I believed God would lead me in the direction He wanted me to go when the time was right. Thus answering the question I know I don't know what to do at this time, but when God tells me then I would know and i would do it."

"Thanks Denise, I second that. Prayer, being still and KNOWING God is listening. He planted desires in our hearts that are often smothered down with "life" as it happens. First, he wants us to enjoy being with him; second, Holy Spirit has wonderful things to share and direct us to do. This is when the magic of life begins, following where he leads!"

"I appreciate you and your thoughts, Andy. Thanks for sharing."

"I read the question and the first think that poped in to this old head was. " Go to your quiet spot. And PRAY, a little time with WISDOM, clears the mind and sets it to work, if you ask the right question.""

"thanks Andy, for all of your nuggets that you keep "spewing" all over the people who read and listen to your books and podcast. I love to walk to your podcast. this particular ideas of defeating the inertia is absolutely awesome. I dont know "everything" that I need to do but it did help me in just moving in that direction to change the inertia."

"Brilliant, Andy... absolutely brilliant!"

"When I don't know what to do and frozen: Depending on the issue(s) I usually escape with an old-fashioned comedy like Night at the Opera. I do something like sorting papers (I'm an admin), or filing. Silly as it seems, it takes the stress off. Sometimes I write the pros and cons of a decision. Other times I go to a quiet place in the house, close my eyes, and visit a favorite place - ocean, park, etc. and pray. Thank you for the opportunity to comment."

"I am at a crossroads where a job I loved is becoming so demanding I don't think I can handle it. Since I gave up worrying for Lent (only about work -don't want to give God too much to do) life has been better but I have decisions to make. Thanks for the primer."

"I am 60 years old and mildly disabled and my problem is just the opposite - I have so many things that I want to do and pretty soon I am going in too many directions for my physical limitations. I have never been bored a day in my life. I have to make myself sit down and watch tv in the evening with my husband, because there is always something that I "need" to do. Do you have a question for me?????"

"Whne I can't figure a problem, I think of Thomas Edison who tried over 10,000 times to invent ther florescent light. He said, "So many people don't realize how close they were to success when they just gave up." Never give up"

"Objects in motion tend to stay in motion!"

"I ask myself this question when I feel scared to step out of my comfort zone. "If you had only six months to live, is this what would you be doing today?""

"I retired almost one year ago and have had a wonderful year. When I thought about being retired and how I wanted to invest my new free time, I considered what was the three most important things to me that I would want to invest my time involved in. Giving more of my time to God, spending more time with my elderly parents who live 3 hours away and more time with my three young grandsons who live close to me. I felt those goals would be a good start. So this past year, I have been more involved at my church, regularly visit and help my parents, and am available to do special activities with my grandsons to make lasting memories. Just recently I was asked to work on a politial campaign. I felt strongly about helping in this area, so I accepted and I'm working to hopefully help make a difference in this area.. My challenge is to make sure I do not become over-committed. After a year I still feel committed to my first 3 goals and the additional one I added. So,I would say to think about what your interests are and focus on how you can get involved in those areas to make a difference in the world you live in and with the people in your life."

"I wanted to add another point on "retirement". One book that gave me a great perspective on this concept of retirement is the book, "Thou Shall Prosper", by Rabbi Lapin. Rabbi Lapin mentions that the word "retirement" does not exist in Hebrew. In other words, the concept of retirement- stopping work to take it easy- will work against you.

We should always continue to learn and grow rather than be stagnant and "retire". That is a great perspective. Along with Andy Andrew's fantastic book, "The Noticer", we sometimes need a change in perspective to move forward in life.

JR Felisilda
Author of the book,"Nanay: Lessons from a Mother""

"So many lessons and different perspectives we can gain on this topic. Loved your thoughts, Andy, and so many of the other readers' comments and additional ideas.

For me, I find that I gain perspective by turning my thoughts to something OTHER than what it is I'm trying to wrap my mind around or move forward on. I tend to gain perspective by reading (the bible or other books), getting out into nature, exerting physical energy (i.e. sports, esp. outdoor sports), and traveling (meeting people from other parts of the world and gaining new perspectives from them). Oh, and something I do on a daily basis, is I surround myself with people who already ARE where I want to be, or who are on the same path that I am. And actually, I find that when others come to me looking for perspective, and I'm given an opportunity to help them with that, THAT'S when I often times gain clarity for myself. So many times when we can get our conscious mind to take a break from our "own thing", that's when our subconscious is able to speak up and we can hear what the answer is."

"Hi Andy! This is a great post. I find my not knowing what to do now, I pray. I ask God, "What should I do now?"

He has never let me down. As a matter of fact, last fall I asked my husband what it would look like for me to pursue an art & communication business full time and leave my job. He didn't know, neither did I.

After praying a few weeks about it, I stumbled upon a book about cultivating an atmosphere in your life where your dreams can come true. I purchased the book and after three chapters had the first piece of my action plan. I set up a website, purchased business cards, and postcards featuring two of my favorite pieces of my artwork. Then I started talking to people about my idea. I asked people to pray and join me in dreaming...

Just a few weeks ago I developed an action plan for leaving my job in the summer and I am now developing the plan for what happens after that. I divide it up into bite size pieces and pursue the desires of my heart one small bite at a time!

Thanks for encouraging, blessing and bringing clarity in the simplicity of questions. :) ~ MB"