Time to Read: 4 mins
There’s a sentiment I hear a lot.
Sometimes from clients.
Sometimes from friends.
And if I’m being honest… sometimes from my own head.
It sounds like this:
“I just need to sit with this a bit longer before I make a move.”
It sounds reasonable. Like you’re being intentional instead of reactive, right?
But have you ever noticed how that thought tends to show up right before…
…nothing happens?
- No next step.
- No experiment.
- No decision.
Just more sitting.
More thinking.
More waiting for things to feel clearer.
Here’s the thing: this isn’t usually rooted in avoidance.
It often comes from caring.
People who don’t care don’t “sit with things.”
They move on. Or disengage. Or numb out.
Wanting to sit with something usually signals care — a desire to do things well and to show up thoughtfully, both personally and professionally.
And yet, there’s a hidden trap here.
Over time, that one reasonable-sounding thought can quietly become a holding pattern.
And until we notice the pattern, we can’t interrupt it.
✨ Here's Why This Matters!
The gap between insight and action rarely feels dramatic.
It’s much more subtle than that.
It sounds like:
- “I’m still thinking it through.”
- “I want to be more intentional about this.”
- “I don’t want to force it.”
But if you zoom out, you might notice you’ve been sitting with the same idea for weeks. Maybe months. Maybe longer.
And while you’re sitting with it… life keeps moving forward.
Time keeps passing.
Opportunities quietly slip by.
That's the hidden cost!
And it often shows up as an assumption we don’t even realize we’re making.
One that says... clarity has to come first, and action should follow once things feel settled.
But lived experience tells a different story.
More often than not, clarity shows up through action.
Not before it.
And this is where self-leadership becomes essential.
Self-leadership is what allows you to keep moving even when clarity hasn’t fully arrived yet.
It makes room for action to do some of the clarifying for you.
But how can you put this to work for you?
I’m glad you asked. 😉
💡Practionable Takeaway
A 5-Minute Practice (No Overthinking Required)
The next time you catch yourself saying, “I need to sit with this,” pause and answer these two simple questions:
1️⃣ What am I actually waiting for?
Be honest. More information? Permission? Confidence? Someone else’s reaction?
2️⃣ What’s one tiny action that would give me more data than more thinking will?
Not a decision. Just an experiment.
Then — and this part matters! — do the tiny action.
🚫 Not next month.
🚫 Not next week.
✅ Today.
Even a small move can dislodge the trap of mistaking continued reflection for progress.
And that's self-leadership in action.
🎥 Want to Go Deeper?
Now, sometimes we do have insights and yet still struggle to turn learning into action.
And there’s a very real reason for that.
As well as with techniques to help you overcome it.
Which is exactly what I unpack in this week’s YouTube video 👇
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It explores why learning so often fails to stick — and how strengthening how you lead yourself changes what you’re actually able to implement.
Until next week, I’ll leave you with this question:
Where might a small, imperfect action serve you better than more sitting?
To Your Success, 💜🧡
Laura
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