Taking Action: Turning Your Plans Into Reality

by Suzie Booth, Psychotherapist (MSc. MBACP accred).

You’ve explored the idea of making a change. You’ve thought it through, prepared, and planned. Now comes taking action: turning your plans into reality.

The action stage is when you actively do something differently. It’s when you take concrete steps toward the change you want to see in your life. This part of the journey requires commitment, time, and energy, and it also asks you to keep the earlier stages in mind.

When we reach this point, it’s easy to feel excited and ready to go. But don’t forget what you learned during contemplation:

• Why you wanted this change in the first place

• What you’re moving away from

• Where you want to end up

  
  

And remember your preparation stage: the plans you made, the resources you gathered, the strategies you built to handle challenges.

What Action Looks Like

Action is about doing. It could mean:

• Signing up for and attending that evening class you’ve been researching.

• Starting the new morning routine you mapped out.

• Having the conversation you’ve been meaning to have.

• Choosing to pause before reacting when you feel stressed.

  
  

Whatever your change is, this is when you bring it into your daily life. Simply setting things up isn’t enough, you have to follow through consistently for the change to take hold.

Navigating Setbacks

While the action stage is about moving forward, it’s also about resisting the pull to slip back into old habits. You’ll almost certainly face bumps along the way. Maybe you miss a few days, or react in a way you hoped you wouldn’t. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed, you can reset the very next day (or even the next moment).

The key is to avoid letting one slip undo all your progress. Keep perspective: progress is rarely a straight line.

Keep Motivation Alive

• Celebrate small wins - you might not be at your end goal yet, but acknowledge the positive steps you’ve taken.

• Review your plan - is your goal still relevant now that you’ve begun? Do you need to adjust anything to keep it realistic and motivating?

• Stay connected to your ‘why’ - revisit your reasons for starting when things feel tough.

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The action stage is where change becomes visible, but it’s also where persistence is tested. By staying mindful of your motivation, recognising progress, and adapting when needed, you can keep moving forward, even when the road gets bumpy.

Next we will look at how to maintain a change because after action, comes the need for maintenance!