To Do or Not to Do, That Is the Question.

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea of “Just do it.” Yup, totally Nike’s slogan. Also if you type in “Just do it” into google the first thing that pops up is Shia LaBeouf’s” motivational speech” (which while we’re on the subject, totally worth checking out if you want a little giggle). 

All joking aside there’s something to be said for just doing something. How often do you talk yourself out of doing something because you’re scared or nervous, or maybe just lazy? Many times the things that bring us the most growth aren’t things we’re thrilled about doing but the accomplishment of doing them far exceed what we could imagine. 

This idea of just “do it anyway” has been playing in my head all week. I watched a mindset reset video with Mel Robbins and she talks about “do it anyway.” She says even when your brain starts to create excuses, you can acknowledge your thoughts and feelings trying to hijack you but then you must still do it anyway. Anything you’re thinking about doing, whether it’s eating healthy, exercising, going to a social event, decide whether it will deplete you or if it will expand your future and make you grow, make you feel energized and alive, or create possibilities. If it does any of those latter things then you must do it. Mel also says, “If your problem can be fixed by action, you don't have a problem.” Shortly after, I was watching a youtube clip of Barbra Streisand who said, “how do you succeed, if you don’t try?”

This weekend I got it in my head I had to hike a 14er. I’m a Colorado native who has somehow never hiked one (I got mountains in my backyard, I can do it anytime right!?) but since I’m moving by next summer I got it in my head that I had to do one before the end of this season and I wanted to do the challenging Long’s Peak (over 14 miles with lots of difficult terrain), go big or go home! My brain tried to both talk myself into it and out of it at the same time. Luckily the part that was talking myself into it found a friend who said they would do it with me. So when I started saying, “well the weather might not be good enough” and “what if we can’t reach the summit?” and “I’m probably in too bad of shape.” He just said “we’ll be fine, I’ll pick you up at 1:15am” (yeah you read that right, got a solid four hours of sleep and was on the trail by 2:45am). You know what? We crushed it. The weather was gorgeous, we made it to the summit, and I got my first 14er in the books. Was it extremely mentally challenging and did I hate the 7 miles of hiking back when I had a headache and body was exhausted? Am I sore as hell today? Most definitely. But I can look back and be so freakin’ proud of my accomplishment and know that it was all worth it. It’s just one more piece that proves to myself I am strong and capable. Despite all odds and excuses I just did it. Everything worked out perfectly and I have one more thing crossed off my bucket-list.

So what is it that you need to do? It can be something as seemingly simple as paying off a bill or running errands (I say “seemingly simple” because sometimes those things can be tough!) or as big as finding a new job or moving to a new place. Anything. We have this one life to live, so if there is something that popped into your head that you need to do, go do it.