Daily Thought for Change

I was halfway through building the tool (for leaders to succeed with change). My brain was fried.
No one was waiting for it. No one even knew I was making it.
And quitting? Seemed like the easier, more logical option.
Why?
One word: autonomy.

Every time excuses started creeping in, “I’ll finish it later,” “Maybe it’s not that important,” “No one’s waiting for it anyway” - I asked myself, like a reflex:

What do you want from your life, Angela?

What kind of person are you becoming?
What body of work are you building?
What kind of reputation are you cultivating?
What kind of future do you want?
What skills do you want to master?
What projects do you want to work on?

...

I don’t always ask the whole list. But even one of these questions is enough to light a fire.

And then the next thought, How fast do you want it?

More action today means more results later - faster. The only thing I’m delaying when I delay is my own life.

This is what autonomy means to me:
I choose to create a certain life.
I choose to become a certain person.
I choose to build a certain future.
And that choice comes with a cost.
And the time to pay is now.

“In self-determination theory (SDT), autonomy refers to the need to feel like the master of one's own behavior and choices, acting in accordance with one's sense of self. It's about experiencing a sense of volition and psychological freedom in one's actions. This contrasts with feeling controlled by external forces or internal pressures.

SDT posits that humans have three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs are met, we experience greater motivation, well-being, and engagement.

Autonomy isn’t a luxury. It’s a need, like food or water. Satisfying it is essential for psychological health and optimal functioning.”

Imagine if your drive to finish your projects was as powerful as your drive to eat when hungry.

When you truly connect your actions to your freedom to create the life you want, you get very close to that.

That’s been my secret motivation button.

Now it’s yours too.
If you choose it.

Where in your life are you procrastinating? And have you asked yourself… is this really a question of effort or of ownership?