At many critical junctures in life, people often feel confused: What kind of person do I want to become? What is the life I truly desire? Can I change my current situation? However, more often than not, it’s not that we don’t know what we should do, but rather that we are afraid to take action. We fear failure, rejection, risk, and the irreversible consequences of making a wrong decision. This fear often traps us in a state of “wanting to do something but not daring to.”
Here is a very practical solution: treat your life as a story in progress, with you as the main character. You can constantly adjust the plot, shape your character, and even restart after setbacks. But the most important step in advancing the story is action. To help you break through your internal fears and hesitation, the following five methods may offer inspiration.
1. Clear Mental Clutter by Writing Daily Morning Pages
Every morning, spend 15 minutes writing down all the thoughts swirling in your mind, aiming to fill at least three A4 pages. This is not for others to read, so there’s no need to worry about the structure or grammar. Just let it be real and direct.
This is a very powerful self-clearing tool. Our minds are like information warehouses, constantly filled with thoughts, emotions, and anxieties. We rarely take the time to pause and inspect these contents. Writing, especially writing for yourself in a journal, acts like a “content output” for the brain. When you write down your thoughts line by line, your emotions begin to settle, and your mood no longer fluctuates as much.
For example, if you’ve been struggling with whether to confess your feelings to someone you like, you might write this down:
“I really want to tell her I like her, but I’m afraid of rejection. If she doesn’t accept, can we still be friends like before? Will it be awkward? I don’t have to date her, being friends is fine too… But what if she accepts someone else’s confession later? Will I regret it? Maybe I should act now… But if I ask her out, won’t it be too obvious? Will she already guess what I’m about to say? Sigh, what should I do?”
By writing continuously, you’ll be surprised to find that these concerns are not as complicated as they seemed. By externalizing your abstract emotions into words, you can step back and observe your situation as if from the perspective of an outsider, bringing clarity and decision-making power.
2. Pretend to Write an Email to Someone You Respect to Clarify Your True Thoughts
Another very useful method is to pretend you’re writing an email to someone you deeply respect, such as a mentor or an ideal figure, and seek their advice. You don’t need to send this email; the process of writing itself is a form of thinking and clarifying.
When imagining asking someone for advice, you’ll naturally try to present your situation clearly, avoiding emotional or vague expressions. You’ll organize the background, analyze your challenges, and summarize your confusion and goals. By “writing for someone else,” you’re essentially going through a self-clarification process.
Many people, after writing this “fake email” and then reading it, suddenly realize, “I’ve been overthinking this simple issue,” or “I’ve been going in circles—this problem is really easy to solve.”
Both journaling and writing these “fake emails” serve the same purpose: to present the clutter in your mind in an orderly manner, allowing you to gain the strength to act. This process is one of the driving forces that push your life story forward.
3. Stop Overthinking—Start Doing
Many people find it difficult to start a new phase in their life or achieve their dreams, not because there’s a lack of opportunity, but because they focus too much on “thinking” and fail to take concrete actions. We often deceive ourselves by saying, “I’m not ready yet, I’ll wait a bit longer,” or “I’ll do it once I’ve figured everything out.”
The truth is: No matter how perfect your plans are, without action, they are meaningless. Ideas themselves are free and available to everyone, but what truly creates value is whether you’re willing to act on them. As someone once said: “Your great ideas are worth a penny; what really counts is execution.”
Overthinking often leads to procrastination. When you think, “I want to do this perfectly,” but delay taking action, you may end up intimidated by your own high standards. Instead of constantly imagining, take the first step.
Even if it’s something as simple as looking up information, sending an inquiry message, or signing up for an online course—these small actions will shift you from “thinking” into “doing.” Once you start moving, you’ll realize things aren’t as difficult as you imagined.
4. Understand the Difference Between “Judgment” and “Decision”
We often confuse “judgment” and “decision.” For example, you might spend a long time collecting data, seeking advice, and yet still hesitate to make a choice. Or, at a moment when rational analysis is needed, you might make a hasty decision.
In fact, judgment and decision are two completely different thought processes:
- Judgment is based on data, logic, and standards to choose the best option, like “Is this company worth switching to?” or “Does this market have potential?”
- Decision, on the other hand, is about being decisive even when information is lacking or opinions are divided, like “Should I quit my job now?” or “Should I start a business?”
Many times, we hesitate because we treat decisions as if they require judgment. We delay, trapped in a mental loop of analysis.
Jeff Bezos divides decisions into two types:
- Type I decisions: Irreversible, high-risk, and need careful consideration.
- Type II decisions: Reversible, flexible, and should be made quickly.
Most everyday choices are Type II—like switching departments, signing up for a course, or testing a side business. These types of decisions can be adjusted along the way, and the sooner you take action, the sooner you’ll receive feedback.
So, when you find yourself stuck, ask yourself: “Is this really something that requires long-term judgment, or can I make a decision now?” You’ll find that many of the seemingly complicated problems are actually just ones you’ve been avoiding making a choice about.
5. Use a Risk Management Table to Turn Fear Into a Manageable Plan
Many people hesitate to take action because they magnify the “risks.” When deciding to switch jobs, start a business, or pursue a new relationship, we often think of the worst-case scenarios: “What if I fail?” “What if I lose all my money?” “What if I’m rejected and feel embarrassed?”
At this point, consider calmly creating a “risk management table.” The goal is to break down your fears and plan for each potential risk. For example:
Goal: Become a Freelancer
Potential Risks:
- Unstable income, difficulty maintaining a livelihood
- Losing clients, leading to financial pressure
- Feeling lonely due to too much alone time, affecting mental health
Prevention and Response Measures:
- Save at least two years’ worth of living expenses
- Start with a part-time side job before going full-time
- Stay connected with other freelancers in the same field
- Have a “failure fallback plan,” such as returnable positions or short-term freelance opportunities
Risks are not inherently scary. What’s scary is facing them unprepared. Once you have a clear risk management strategy, fear loses its power over you.
Conclusion: It’s Your Small Steps That Move Your Life Story Forward
Many people think they need to “wait until they’re not afraid” to take action, but the reality is: true courage isn’t about being fearless, it’s about being willing to act despite fear. As long as you move forward—whether it’s writing a journal, sending a pretend email, signing up for a course, or confessing your feelings—these small actions will help you step out of confusion and toward a clearer, more authentic life trajectory.