Meditation or Movement – Which Is Best?

April 5, 2011 in Goals with 8 Comments

Unless you try to do something beyond what you
have already mastered, you will never grow.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson -

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.

– Robert H. Schuller -


The longer I work with life and career clients, the more I realize that certain “sticking points” are common with many people. Think of them as “hurdles” that are difficult to clear.

One such hurdle is the tendency to spend more time meditating on what to do than actually getting busy and doing something.

Why does this happen?

You name it…

  • Perfectionism.
  • Fear.
  • Busyness.
  • Not knowing where to start.

Whatever the cause, the result is always the same:

  • Lack of movement.
  • Halt-ed-ness
  • Stuck-ness.

Now, don’t miss what I’m about to write…

First, meditating (i.e. thinking, planning, and goal setting) is essential. The likelihood of anyone finding significance or success without meditating on what matters most is scant. The fact is, I spend a significant amount of time thinking deeply about purpose and direction, intentionally planning how to best invest my life, and setting goals to achieve what matters most to me.

Second, I struggle with the same things you do. Remember the list…

  • Perfectionism.
  • Fear.
  • Busyness.
  • Not knowing where to start.

As I write this, I am looking in “my mirror” and focusing on “my issues” as much, if not more so, than the issues my life and career clients’ face.

Yet, the bottom line for all of us is this…meditating on what to do and why to do it is important, but there comes a  time when we must stop meditating and start moving.

Why?

Because so much more is accomplished through movement than meditation!

What this means, basically, is there is a time to say, “Good enough is good enough…let’s start moving!”

So…in the spirit of Ecclesiastes….

  • There is a time think…
  • There is a time to plan…
  • There is a time to strategize…
  • There is a time to prepare…
  • There is a time set goals…

BUT…

There is also a time to get off our rears and do something!

Why not make that time today? Do something today you’ve been thinking about doing and believe is significant. I guarantee you’ll be energized and feel a sense of meaning in your life!

 

  • Chris

    Oh, I love that Robert Schuller quote. I can plan better than most people but starting is certainly what create results. Thanks for sharing how you struggle with the same things we all do. Great post!

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      Christopher…sorry I missed your response here. I love that Schuller quote too; it’s a great one!

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  • http://danblackonleadership.com/ Dan Black

    What a great post. a balance of both is good. Taking time to think then put it into action is something more people need to do. At the end of the day though we need to have done something that moves us forward.

    Great post man.

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      So true, Dan! That’s what “living it forward” is all about…

  • http://www.fieldofdebt.com/ Jen McDonough

    AWESOME post Kent! Love the advice that sometimes we just need to say “Good is good enough…lets start moving!” 
    I have met so many people over the years who get paralyzed with indecision that they just stop moving forward. 
    Great post!
    Keep Living Beyond Awesome!
    Jen

    • http://www.liveitforward.com/ Kent Julian

      Often the curse of perfection keeps us from moving forward. That’s the reason I say that meditation and movement are both important, but the most important is movement. Thanks for commenting here, Jen!

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