What to do when you don’t know what to do
There are moments in life when we are absolutely convinced that we would make a change if only we knew how or what to do.
“I want to change jobs but I don’t know what I want to do”
“I want my own business but I don’t know what business to have”
“I want to tell my direct report his/her work is substandard but I don’t know how”
This is possibly the sneakiest way our brain has developed to resist change. It doesn’t sound as aggressive as the inner critic, nor as scary as imposter syndrome. In fact, it sounds quite gentle and supportive. “I don’t know” seems almost neutral.
Resistance takes the form of ‘I need more information’. I will do what I have to do as soon as I have all the information I need. And puts you on the path of feeling like you are taking steps towards making the change you want because you are searching for information, you are asking for advice and opinions.
The truth is that is not doing.
Doing is ‘I don’t have all the information but I will figure out what I need to do as and when necessary’. In the meantime you are in action.
And if you still feel like you need something to get started and your brain says ‘I don’t know’, start with this:
What do you know?
What are you sure of?
What would you tell your best friend?
You know more than you realise.
