Turn New Knowledge Into Action

“Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice.” James 1:22 GNT

We learn something new every day and sometimes they don’t look like solutions until we search them out. It can be disheartening to realize that the solution you seek is something you learned in the past and actually wrote down in a journal.

I have kept several journals. I was never a fan of writing a daily diary because the consistency required was difficult. But I always had a notebook that contained inspirational notes and revelations I encountered.

Over time, one journal became several journals and the knowledge contained in those journals is gold. While this is good, it also makes me realize how much of a hearer I am and not a doer.

Sometimes, I randomly pick one up, flip through the pages and see action points I decided to practice. Now several years later, none of those actions were taken. Sometimes I close the journals in anger. Other times, I beat myself up for not taking action or I make a new commitment to apply what I wrote down.

The documentation proves that the average human who seeks to grow is learning daily. It’s not until you do an exam or a course that you learn. Simple life lessons fly past us daily and if you’re intentional, you grab them.

I am also convinced that you are at your current level because of new knowledge that you didn’t turn into action. As I told someone during a coaching session, the solution you seek is probably something you know already. But because you didn’t give much thought to it when it came your way in the past, now you have to search it out again. This is why one of the first activities I make people do in any program is to share their stories because there are gems buried in past experiences.

It’s okay if you’re not the type that keeps journals but you can have a way to document new knowledge you gain. You can do this in writing, or by recording a voice message on your phone. We don’t usually remember everything we hear. And when you document, choose what you’ll take action on and just do it.

Don’t try to overwhelm yourself with so many tasks because of the excitement of what you just learnt. If you’re like me, you’ll most likely not do any of them. Pick one and run with it. And if there is any need to revisit the others, then do that. But please, take action. Your future depends on it.