Thought work or action?

There are a lot of people on social media these days saying that we need to do our own inner work, and a lot of people saying we need to take action.

So which one is better? Which one do we do first? Which is most important?

That’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time. And yes, I mean struggle, because I was stuck in it – fully in the Just Do It culture, and I tended to value action over thought. But now I see that we absolutely need both.

Obviously, we need to do things. We need to take action. We can’t just sit around thinking all the time.

But we can’t just do things without thinking about them. Obviously, there’s the chance that we might do the wrong thing – over and over and over.

What exactly do I mean by thought work? Good question, because it’s a phrase that is thrown around a lot without explanation. I’m talking about the purposeful examination of our thinking. Looking for truths, flaws, errors and opportunities for growth. Thought work is listening. Thought work is learning.

Thought work is how we discover our inherited thoughts and hidden beliefs – and how we update them.

And if we’re talking about change – intentional change of any kind, personal or social – we really need both. Because thought work transforms our actions.

Some examples:

Discipline transformed by thought work becomes long term self-care.

Exercise becomes mental health care.

Food becomes medicine.

Decisions become power.

Charity becomes justice.

You will do good. Even if you make a mistake. Because remember, you are good. In the meantime, remember these things:

You are loved. We are all loved. Let’s all be kind. And in all things – progress, not perfection!

Love and light,

Maggie

p.s. My book The Rainbow Onion is back from the editors and will be published in July. If you’d like to be on the Launch Team and get an advanced copy and some other gifts, sign up here: https://therainbowonion.com/?p=9630