You Already Know What to Do — So Why Aren’t You Doing It?

We always feel the need for change, something better, and more.

It is true for most of us that we can always be better than we are now. Laziness, distraction, and fear of stepping out of our comfort zones prevent us from performing at our best. This mindset also hinders our growth, stopping us from continuing our journey of self-improvement. But we all have the ability to become better than we were yesterday. We can choose one or multiple areas to improve at a time. With careful planning, genuine interest, and dedicated time, we can bring significant change into our lives.

When we neglect this, we become anxious — so anxious that we start making more poor choices. Opting for easy but unhelpful decisions keeps us distracted from what truly matters. This does us no good. It turns our inner world against us, making us ignore warning signs until we are forced to face something truly disastrous.

The big question is: if we know what we should be doing and have the capability to do it, why don’t we?

Do we really know what we want?

We don’t really know ourselves.

To answer this practically, we need to build a connection with ourselves, just as we do with those around us. The biggest mistake: Trying to figure out everything but ourselves.

Is this the right way? If we don’t set a strong foundation within, nothing will work for us in the long run. Our choices may bring us temporary happiness, but over time, we start to feel an emptiness inside.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” — Aristotle

When we don’t truly know ourselves, we make choices that keep real happiness out of reach. For instance, choosing to scroll on our phones instead of sleeping on time results in low energy the next day, affecting our productivity. Similarly, selecting a career based solely on high earnings may secure financial stability, but true happiness will remain out of reach.

Know yourself more deeply than you know anything or anyone else — and more than others know you. Only then can you truly discover what you want in life. Not only that, but this self-awareness will also give you the courage and motivation to take action in that direction.

(I will explore how to truly know oneself and find one’s purpose in my upcoming work. If you’d like me to do it sooner, just let me know!)

The Game-Changer

The practical way: First clarify what you truly want, then take action, and over time, it will naturally integrate into your life.

It feels incredible once you decide what you really want to do. It may take time, but it’s worth it. The first and most important thing is to adopt a practical mindset — one that acknowledges that living your purpose won’t happen overnight. Your job is to keep your goal in sight and take action every day, even in small ways, to get closer to it. Progress happens when you plan and set small milestones along the way.

Your first step matters. Even if it’s as simple as creating a social media account on a platform where you want to grow and build an audience — do it. Do it now. (Stop for a moment — if there’s something on your mind that you can act on immediately, do it before reading further.)

“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand.” — Napoleon Hill

The Law of Being Real (a concept I came up with myself 😉) states:

You will still be lazy. You will fail. You will feel miserable. You will get angry at yourself. You will feel like giving up on your dreams, settling for something smaller, and calling it a life. It’s okay to feel this way. But when negativity creeps in, smile and give it a firm NO.

Moving forward is life. Growth is the natural course of action. To live is to move forward. That’s what you and I must do — keep going. Learn from your mistakes, forgive your shortcomings, and make the most of what you have.

Remember: Nothing is impossible (even if it feels that way right now). If you can dream it, you can achieve it. What was once considered impossible has become possible for many — why not you and me? We are next in line to turn the impossible into reality.

Now, I’m going to share some techniques that have helped me build discipline in my daily routine. These strategies can assist you in your journey as well.

Schedule & Follow-Up: Just before ending your day, do one more small task that will bring meaningful results. Plan your next steps and allocate time for your most important tasks. The next day, follow up at the same time, schedule your next steps again, and keep repeating this process until it becomes an unshakable habit.

Take on Challenges: Are you struggling with something? Turn it into a challenge that you must complete. Write down what you want to do, how you’re going to do it, and give yourself a realistic yet challenging timeframe. Then, take action and watch the magic happen.

Do It Together: Achieving big results is easier when you have support. They say, If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Find a like-minded friend who also has a big goal. If you don’t have one, give a friend a challenge and help them achieve it — you’ll find that, in the process, you’ve made massive progress on your own goals too. You can also join a group aligned with your interests. For example, if you’re a runner looking to improve, group runs will push you further.

Small Milestones: Let’s say you want to run a mile in four minutes — a bold and challenging goal. To get there, you first need to run a mile in under 10 minutes. But before that, you need to be able to run for 10 minutes straight.

Starting small:

In the first week, run for five minutes, three to four times. The following week, increase your time. Once you can complete a mile under 10 minutes, aim for 9 minutes, then 8 minutes 30 seconds, and so on.

Breaking big goals into smaller steps makes them achievable. I’ve been applying this approach myself — you should too, it works.

From Struggling to Run 500 Meters to Chasing a Half Marathon

Too often, we wait for something drastic to happen — a tragedy, a wake-up call, or a looming deadline — before we take action. But why? Can we develop the same sense of urgency in everyday life? Instead of waiting for an external push, can we push ourselves?

The answer is yes.

Stop Waiting — Start Becoming: I couldn’t even run half a kilometer, and now my goal is to complete a half marathon (21.1 km) in under two hours. How did I get here? It has been a long journey — one that demanded persistence, discipline, and the courage to push through setbacks. There were days when laziness whispered excuses, when my body ached, and when quitting seemed like the easier choice. But I kept going. When knee pain tried to slow me down, I adapted — turning to strength training, which not only healed me but made me stronger, faster, and more resilient.

Most importantly, I ran in a place where running was considered unusual. For two years, I ran alone. No encouragement, no cheering crowd — just me, my goals, and the road ahead. But something incredible happened. As I improved in this one area, everything else in my life started to shift. My discipline in running seeped into my writing. My consistency in training fueled my focus in other areas.

Decide today. Take action now. Start small, but start.

“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.” — Benjamin Disraeli

(I plan to research and share real-life stories of people who transformed their lives after facing adversity — stories that can serve as powerful motivation for us to stay on the right path.)

Be the Game Changer

Remind yourself every day of the rewards of doing the right thing. Picture the satisfaction of making progress, the pride of staying committed, and the joy of knowing you won’t be haunted by regret. When you walk the right path, setbacks won’t break you. A failed project, a closed door, or a temporary standstill won’t be reasons to give up. Instead, you’ll look for ways to turn obstacles into opportunities, to learn, adapt, and come back stronger.

Also remind yourself of the harsh consequences of inaction. Certain choices lead only to dead ends. If you want different results, you must take different actions. Change starts with you.

People often talk about willpower, motivation, and circumstances as if they are prerequisites for success. But the truth is, whatever you need will come to you once you start the journey. Momentum builds with action, not before it.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar

So take action now. Be persistent. Stay on course. And soon, you won’t just be playing the game — you’ll be changing it. You’ll turn challenges into victories, struggles into strengths, and even inspire others to do the same.

If this resonated with you, let me know in the comments. Your support — whether it’s a follow, a share, or just a kind word — can be the game changer for me, just as I hope this message is for you. Let’s move forward together. 🚀