The "Do Something" Principle Will Change Your Life

Hey there,

Most people claim they don’t have the motivation to make big life changes. And honestly, they’re kind of right...

Motivation feels fleeting.

One minute you’re inspired by a Tony Robbins video, the next you’re three hours deep into a “cleaning hacks” rabbit hole while your kitchen still looks like a war zone.

We tend to believe motivation must strike before action can happen.

That we have to “feel ready” before doing the hard thing.

But the truth is, motivation doesn’t just lead to action—action also leads to motivation.

It’s not a straight line. It’s a loop:

Action → inspiration → motivation → more action.

You can start anywhere in the cycle. If motivation is nowhere to be found, start with action.

“But how am I supposed to do something without inspiration?”

Easy. You already do it all the time. You don’t wait for an emotional breakthrough to take a shower or brush your teeth—you just do it.

And weirdly, those little things often kickstart your day.

That’s the “Do Something” Principle, popularized by Mark Manson.

You don’t wait for the spark. You make a tiny move, and the spark shows up after.

I use this principle constantly.

As someone who works for myself, no one’s checking in to make sure I’m productive.

When I first started, I’d spiral into anxiety and freeze. Big tasks felt impossible.

So I started tricking my brain: answer one email. Clean one thing. Make one call.

Once I got moving, momentum followed. Every time.

If you’re stuck, don’t wait for motivation to hit like some magical muse.

Take a small step—any step.

Tidy your desk. Write one sentence. Open the project. Do something. Then ride the wave that follows.

Tiny action, big shift. That’s how the loop starts.

Have a wonderful week, all.
Remember to do something - Scott (@motivatedscott).

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