Summary

The website advocates for adopting a mindset of running small tests or experiments in daily life to build momentum and confidence, rather than waiting to feel trust or belief in oneself before taking action.

Abstract

The author emphasizes the importance of taking action through small tests to overcome resistance and fear associated with new endeavors. Instead of waiting for self-trust or belief, which can lead to stalling and excuses, the author suggests that individuals can start by writing, drawing, or engaging in other small acts of creation. These acts serve as experiments that allow one to truthfully claim a new identity, such as calling oneself a painter after creating just a few pieces of art. The article stresses that action, not trust, is the key to progress and that by testing things out, one can avoid stagnation and live a more vibrant life. The author also offers a free illustrated booklet on the habits of mentally strong people to subscribers of their newsletter.

Opinions

The author believes that the common approach of waiting to feel ready or confident is a form of self-deception and procrastination.
Small, manageable actions are seen as a practical and effective way to bypass the need for immediate self-trust and belief.
The author mocks the idea of waiting for an elusive sense of trust or belief, suggesting it's an unrealistic and fruitless pursuit.
Action is portrayed as a critical component for personal growth, with the repetition of the word "action" emphasizing its importance.
The article suggests that by engaging in small tests, individuals can associate themselves with new activities and adopt new identities, thus building momentum.
The author encourages readers to view challenges as opportunities for testing rather than as insurmountable obstacles, fostering a more resilient and proactive mindset.
The offer of a free booklet on mental strength is presented as a valuable resource for those interested in further developing their ability to face challenges and build momentum in their lives.

The magic of making little everyday tests to create momentum

A brilliant thing I learned from one of my mentors was to ‘test’ rather than ‘trust.’

Most of us feel resistance to taking action, particularly when it comes to something new. This is because it isn’t something we’ve tried.

We haven’t associated ourselves with that thing — whatever it is.

Yet.

And so we come up with ideas about what we need to do to deal with the fear.

These are, of course, clever little lies: excuses.

We say we need to first ‘trust’ the process. Or we need to trust ourselves first.

(Come on, Nathan! Get real).

‘How can I trust that I can do this?’

‘I need to believe in myself first.’

[We tell ourselves].

And when we don’t FEEL that self-belief, that trust — we see this as a reason to stall, to not proceed, because why would we?

Surely, we’re not ready yet? Right? We don’t feel ready. We don’t feel confident yet.

But instead of feeling the need to first trust…

We can test.

We can run little experiments.

We can write a few lines.

We can draw some bad sketches.

We can record short audios in private and play them back.

We can paint a picture and share it on Twitter and see that — even though we only painted one or two paintings — we can now say: ‘I am a painter.’

And you would be telling the truth.

We can accept the invitation to speak on that podcast and see it — not as a big scary deal — but as a little test — one of MANY.

Testing is critical because it is a reflection of action being taken.

Action.

We are now in body, movement, tactility, and flow.

NOT bloody overthinking, planning, doubting, second-guessing, and…

…feeling around for that elusive (and non-existent) sense of having trust, of having belief.

Yeah, good luck with that one, friend!

If in doubt, test.

Go small.

Don’t trust. There is no need.

Test things out at your pace, but do not stay still.

Stagnation is the end of a vivacious and exciting and real life.

🔆

Do you want to be mentally stronger than most people?

If you enjoyed this, you will love my free illustrated booklet for you:

‘The 12 Habits of Mentally Strong People.’

Yours free today for a short time, when you subscribe to my Substack newsletter.