Mood follows action

It’s Saturday and there’s one thing on my schedule that has to get accomplished today.  Run 7 miles as training for my upcoming half-marathon.  But I slept terribly and going for a run, let alone the longest run I’ve done in years, is about the last thing I want to do today.  Why go do something hard when all I want to do is curl up on the couch with YouTube and snacks?  Because doing hard things and accomplishing meaningful goals feels good.  Most importantly, I like to do challenging things because…

MOOD FOLLOWS ACTION

This is a manta of Rich Roll’s, my favorite podcast host.  Thanks to him I recently framed and hung those three words on my wall.  And thanks to those three words, I set my laptop aside, peeled myself off the couch, laced up and went for my run.  I knew it had to be done because the rest of my day would be far better for it.

Sure I could have given in to the temptation to do nothing with my day except surf the web and eat but I knew too well that at the end of the day I’d regret it.  My mood would be gloomy and grumpy because I did absolutely nothing to feed my body or soul in a positive way.  Yet, I knew that if I got outside for an hour and did something challenging, I would reap the rewards for the rest of the day.  Now, with my run behind me, my mind is calm, clear and contented.  Not only that but now I’m energized to make more with my day than just wasting away on the couch.

Positive actions yield a positive mind-frame.  When we act with intent rather than mindlessly trudging through our day, we’re far more likely to end the day feeling good about what we’ve accomplished.  Act on those goals that will make you proud and enjoy a far more productive, positive, invigorated self because of it.  Your future self will thank you.

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By Michele

Michele

Hi, I'm Michele, a nomadic wedding photographer and lover of the great outdoors. I live on the road full-time and document my adventures daily. This is my personal blog where I share and record my thoughts on living simply and intentionally with less stress and more joy. Check out my wedding and portrait photography at http://www.oncwest.com

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