The Consequences of Inaction

There are three responses to stress– fight, flight, or freeze. Most people are pretty familiar with the fight or flight response, but the freeze response is often overlooked. To freeze means to not act. It happens when a person feels overwhelmed and they don’t know what to do, therefore they do nothing. This is not a healthy response, but it is a natural one. If you have the tendency to freeze up during stressful situations, there are ways to overcome that response.

The issue with inaction is that you are just prolonging the problem; as much as you might want it to, it will not go away on its own. Not taking action can also lead to further problems, such as missed deadlines, people waiting on you for something, further confusion, frustration, etc. Sometimes it is better to act and make a mistake than to not try anything at all. You can learn and grow from mistakes, but inaction leads to stagnation.

As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” When you find yourself freezing up, take a moment to ground yourself. Take a deep breath, think about the story you are telling yourself in that moment, and ask yourself what you would have to believe to be okay. Then, ask yourself if you can believe that. This helps center and calm your mind in preparation for action.

Think about an area of your life that you struggle with but you would like to improve upon. Maybe that area is your confidence in speaking in front of others, your understanding of a complex topic at work, or something entirely different. What is one small step you can take in the next 24 to 48 hours to move forward? Progress starts with action. Sometimes you have to stop thinking and worrying about it so much and take that next step, no matter how small.

-Meghan Slaughter