26/03/2026
When we’re struggling, or trying to change direction, it’s tempting to believe the answer lies in thinking more effectively about the problem.
If we can just understand ourselves better, trace the origins of the problem, or finally get a clear explanation for why we feel the way we do, something will click and things will improve. Understanding helps, but on its own, it doesn't change how we behave.
If the idea of change stays confined to thought, behaviour usually remains the same. For example, some people try to overcome anxiety by replaying scenarios, questioning where it came from, or attempting to reassure themselves out of feeling uneasy.
Despite our efforts to out-think anxiety, it still persisits. Defence mechanisms of avoidance and self-protection are too well-practised, and they don’t unravel just because we're thinking more about how to stop them.
Change, by default, requires taking action. That might mean applying for the new job while still anxious, eating alone in a café despite feeling exposed, or taking a small step towards something you've been postponing.
Through doing, we gather new evidence about what actually happens, rather than what our fears predict.
Most of us were taught the idea that we learn by doing. Thinking helps to clarify what's happening, but practice is what builds our confidence and reshapes our experience.
