Knowing is Not Enough. Do.

I frequently tweet ideas related to overcoming, to seeing things to their end even in the midst of trials and hardships. Recently, I (@BillSnodgrass) tweeted this:

From @Quote_Soup: There is a difference between knowing the path & walking the path. -Morpheus

I think people, too often, find themselves stuck in difficult situations, knowing they need to change. They know staying where they are will result in perpetuating the hardship or undesirable circumstances in which they find themselves. Sometimes, these people know exactly what they need to do in order to to overcome the problems or achieve their desired goals.

Yet, they do not take action. For any number of reasons, they remain where they are despite knowing the path they need to take. They know what to do, yet fail to act. Their inaction results in "unchange." Simply knowing what to do is not enough. Change comes only in doing.

Over the years, I have worked with many people who wanted to experience change in various areas. Some time ago, I worked with a man who wanted to lose weight, so he said.

He knew what to do. He knew he needed to change eating habits. He knew he needed to exercise. Nevertheless, he made no changes to his lifestyle. He continued being sedentary and eating far more than needed. Eventually, I confronted him.

"You don't really want to lose weight," I said. "You wish you wanted to lose weight, but you really don't want to change anything."

Many people wish they wanted to make a change, and what's more, they know the path they need to take in order for that change to be realized. They see themselves stuck in undesirable circumstances, and even know what they need to do to change.

But knowing is not enough.

Doing is required.