Do you ever get stuck in your goals and dreams because you feel like you just can’t figure out the right next step? The perfect schedule? The best approach? Etc.? I’ve been feeling the same, but as I’ve mentioned over my last few weekly email newsletters, I’m seeing that overthinking has led to a lack of action, which has led to a lack of results. Which led me to creating The Hypothesis Approach.
Basically, I’m trying something new out and LOVING it. And naturally I wanted to share this with you in case it helps you too!
See, I hear from so many people that they want to change their life, but instead of actually doing so, they just motivational video after motivational video on social media.
These can be great.
Sometimes you need a little inspo to help work up the courage to take action.
But you don’t to get stuck here.
Why?
Because watching videos isn’t going to change your life. Doing the work you need to do to change your life is going to change your life.
Now I can already hear you:
“But Diana, what do I actually DO to change my life? I just don’t know what to dooooooo?”
*cries in perfectionist-driven frustration*
Look, I’ve been here too. And yea, it totally sucks!
So here’s the thing I’m trying: Basically, I accept that there is no correct plan. And that I need to just make something up and see how it goes. Evaluate my results. Learn. And repeat.
I call it – the Hypothesis Approach.
And doesn’t it feel so much lighter and doable already?
*deep breaths, my friend*
The Hypothesis Approach (To Achieving Your Goals and Dreams)
Now I’m no science expert (even though I did major in Computer *Science* in college lol).
But one thing I remember from science class in school is the approach to experiments*:
- In order to solve a problem or get to a result, there was often no proven solution (or at least not one that the teacher would give you), so you had to find a way to your end goal. How?
- First, you’d make a hypothesis.
- Then, you’d run tests.
- Next, you’d assess the results.
- And then you’d tweak the hypothesis to come up with new ways to approach the problem.
- With the big thing being to continue iterating on this until you got to your solution.
*Note: I believe this is technically called “Scientific Method”, and it has 6-7 official steps (I saw different variations on google), but the above is my unofficial interpretation from memory lol
So I’m treating life, especially when it comes to my personal development, like a science experiment.
it’s almost like a little trick to help myself get unstuck by taking the perfectionism and seriousness out of things.
The Hypothesis Approach:
Pre-work: Accept that there is no perfect strategy and that wanting to know exactly the right steps to take is only keeping you stuck.
- Identify a problem / goal you’d like to achieve.
- Create a hypothesis for a way to solve the problem and/or achieve the goal.
- Execute testing to see how the hypothesis performs in your real life.
- Assess the results – what went well and what didn’t go so well?
- Tweak the hypothesis and repeat steps 2-5.
That’s it! Not too bad, eh?
What exact steps will get me to becoming a “morning person”? I’m not sure. But I have some ideas, and I’m trying them out.
What is the BEST working schedule now that I’m working for myself? I know it’s NOT a 9-to-5 schedule. But I don’t know what the most effective, most productive schedule that makes me happiest looks like yet. So I’m creating some hypotheses and testing them out.
And I’m trying this in different areas of my life.
I’m learning a lot in the process.
But most importantly, I’m getting out of being trapped in inaction due to indecision and not knowing what the perfect step to take next is for fear of taking the wrong step. And I’m taking (my keyword for the year) *action*.
I’m making progress.
And as one of my recent affirmation cards reminded me, “results happen in the process”.
No Perfect Plan
So next time you’re getting caught up in the need for the perfect plan and it’s keeping you stuck, remember that there isn’t a perfect plan.
Remember, perfection is an illusion!
Perfection is an illusion
You just make the best plan you can now with the resources and knowledge you have now, see how it goes, and tweak it!
Don’t let yourself get caught up in “oh what if I fail because I choose the wrong plan!” dramatic energy.
You only get into ultimate failure when you don’t even try.
So try.
Failure is part of the process for anything. Failure isn’t the worst thing to happen. Staying stuck and unhappy is.
Most people have to fail their way to success.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
~ Winston S. Churchill
Take the pressure off and be playful.
See if you can make the experience more joyful and fun. (I’ve been journaling about this a lot and looking for ways to bring more joy and play into all things, even work, and it’s really helping)
Believe in yourself and the beauty of your dreams.
You deserve to live a beautiful life, and you get to create it day by day, one hypothesis at a time.
Check the Action Section below to put this week’s email into action! 💪
Ready to Take Action?
Ready to try the Hypothesis Approach for your goals and dreams?
The steps to the Hypothesis Approach are documented above. Here are some bonus steps:
- If you’re not sure what goal to tackle, use the IIN Circle of Life tool to identify your top holistic health pillar you’d like to focus on. And think about what goal within this pillar you’d like to try out first.
- When your perfectionism and / or overthinking kicks in, remember that this isn’t that serious. And that making forward progress is better than coming up with the perfect plan. Which doesn’t exist anyway. All you have to do is come up with a hypothesis and try.
- Remember to have fun. Ask yourself how you can bring more joy to this goal / dream experiment.
More Personal Development to Love
Oh and if you think you need to wait until you’re motivated to get started on this, then you need to read this blog post about motivation and mediocrity next
***