ACCAa starts with awareness

When we become aware of something in our lives and immediately move into action mode, we are almost always coming from a place of reaction, not action. Think about it.

If you have a particularly terrible day at work, you might conclude awful day at work = quit job and find a new one. And, yea, maybe you need a new job. I'm not discrediting that.

Also, maybe you need a new assignment at work. Maybe you are bored. Maybe you are being challenged by something you don't understand and it feels uncomfortable. Maybe you need a break. Maybe you need to use some of that PTO you have been accumulating. Maybe you want to hang in for a couple months as you get your new side hustle off the ground enough to pay the bills. Maybe you just need a nap. Maybe Saturn is doing something wacky {is Saturn doing something wacky, April?}.

Instead of going from awareness to action with nary a breath in between, try inserting some cushion using this handy acronym: ACCAa. It stands for: Awareness, Curiosity, Creativity, Action, accountability.

Awareness: Become aware of what is happening - or at least that something is happening. Be present.

Curiosity: Ask questions instead of placing judgments. Ask yourself what is happening? Why? How do I know? How am I feeling? How do I want to feel? Basically you are asking yourself, what is really going on here?

Creativity: Start to consider some possible solutions - some opportunities. You can ask yourself, what are some alternatives? How might someone else come at this? Or you can even ask someone else!

Action: Now we get to the action, but this time instead of just going for the knee-jerk solution you would have devised in the heat of the moment, try something different. Something new.

accountability: Finally, make yourself accountable. It's a lowercase "a" because this step is really a part of action. It makes the action real. You know you best. Insert the method of accountability that will work for you. Get the support and resources you need to make the change.

...and speaking of support and resources...