"The Will to Act" by G.

Why do we always seem to wait until it's too late? To let opportunities slip through our fingers like sand? We usually know what the stakes are. We know the consequences. But when the time comes to actually do something, it's like a spider just bit you with paralyzing venom. What is needed to drive people to Act? Is it something rare, as there are an unlimited number of average people, but a smaller number of people who took themselves farther? Well...

I've always thought of the Will to Act as a reason that has very strong emotional ties. Logic provides the reasons, but it seems like only emotions bring the drive to follow through. If the reason to do something doesn't have a strong enough emotional tie, it's harder to act. Note that even with strong emotional ties, it's still a hell of a fight. Imagine some guy trying to ask a girl he's known for awhile out. The hesitation probably came from a fear of rejection; of that little hope being crushed. But the greater promise of happiness; that in itself might be worth taking the plunge for. They say that logic and emotions clash often, but emotions can also clash with each other. It's this emotional clash that probably makes it more likely for a person to act.

The other factor that can be the make or break idea when deciding to take action is how far the consequences are from you. That right there is the heart of procrastination. If we convince ourselves that the due date is far away, or that we have plenty of time to do something, then we justify not acting. There is nothing easier in the world than not acting; naturally we bend towards the easier option. But if the consequences of not acting are prolonged, and effect your everyday life, then we will be more prone to act. Was Global Warming taken very seriously back then? Once the consequences started to show, people finally decided to give it a chance. Wasn't it said that Global Warming could be a potential threat? Logically, a person might have tried to check it out. We didn't pay much attention until evidence started to rack up; another example of waiting until it was "too late".

So is that it? Can we really not act purely off logic; does an emotional fire always need to burn in our hearts to achieve what is necessary? We all act using logic... until the stakes start to get higher. Then it's a wrestling match between emotions. Between resisting change and the promise of a better future. Taking a chance, or living without ever knowing what could have happened. The Will to Act is not a big mystery, but it's one that I wish I had better control of. If we used more of our potential, all of our lives would probably be vastly improved. It's those mental blocks; fears and emotions, that fuel our indecision. The one who can learn to control their thoughts and emotions is more powerful than they could ever know.

Well hey, thanks for reading this far! What do you think of the Will to Act? Are there different reasons? Different causes? Feel free to leave your comments.