Do It Now, Figure It Out Later!

💭 Thoughts of the week

Have you ever felt like giving up on something you wanted to do because it seemed too complex and overwhelming? Maybe you should try doing it now and figure it out later.

Last month, during my camping trip with friends, I bought a board game called "Betrayal at House on the Hill". I hoped it would provide a fun way for us to disconnect from our phones and enjoy each other's company. However, we quickly realised that the game was quite complex. We spent two hours reading through the rulebook and watching YouTube videos to learn how to play. We were on the verge of giving up, but one of my friends suggested that we simply start playing and figure it out as we went along. Despite the time it took, we actually enjoyed the process of deciphering the game more than we anticipated. We shared many laughs and had fun poking fun at each other's mistakes as we navigated the rules.

This particular experience has deeply prompted me to reflect on my approach to handling overwhelming situations in my life. Allow me to take you back to the time when I had just graduated from medical school and embarked on my journey as a doctor. To say that it was a daunting experience would be an understatement. The stark contrast between my own abilities and those of my seasoned seniors was palpable, leaving me in a state of constant uncertainty and unease. The sheer magnitude of not knowing how to bridge the gap and progress towards their level was overwhelming, to say the least.

However, it was during this period that I consciously adopted a mindset that has played an instrumental role in shaping the person I am today: "do it now, figure it out later." This powerful mantra served as my guiding light, helping me to push through the barriers and navigate the treacherous path that lay ahead.

To do this though, there are a few main points to keep in mind:

1. Balancing Self-Perception of Ability and Risk Management

   Yes, do it now, but not at the expense of losing everything. Let's take being a doctor as an example. As I gained experience, I had to learn how to make decisions more independently and progress in my career. This required understanding of both my confidence and the potential risks associated with my decisions. By balancing my perception of my own expertise with the possible risks, I could make safe decisions while attempting to push myself out of my comfort zone and growing as a better doctor.

2. Figure It Out!

   The approach is called "do it now, figure it out later". Doing it is important, yet it remains crucial to actually figure things out. For example, when formulating a management plan in the presence of a consultant, mistakes may arise, particularly when our experience and knowledge are lacking. Nevertheless, this situation presents an opportunity to identify knowledge gaps, plan for improvement, and apply that knowledge to future patients with similar conditions. If the focus solely revolves around action without reflection or learning, the development of clinical skills is likely to plateau.The idea behind the "do it now" mentality is to remove the friction of starting to get the ball rolling. However, it's also important to make sure the ball is rolling in the right direction, and to correct its path if necessary, rather than letting it roll into the drain.

3. Celebrate Small Wins

   What has worked exceptionally well for me in this mindset is having a deep sense of accomplishment and satisfaction whenever I take a moment to reflect on and appreciate the progress I have made thus far. This reflective practice not only fuels my motivation but also serves as a powerful reminder of how far I have come, ultimately reinforcing my commitment and dedication towards achieving my goals.

4. Enjoy and Trust the Process

   The previous point greatly helped me stay sane and maintain my mental well-being by consistently reminding me that even though growth might be slow, there will always be progress. This unwavering belief in what I'm doing has not only allowed me to trust the process, but it has also enabled me to find joy in the journey itself. It's important to note that this doesn't mean it's all smooth sailing – there are still numerous challenges and tough moments along the way. However, by having faith in the process and consciously seeking enjoyment in every step, I have managed to stay on track and, more importantly, it has given me the courage to venture into uncharted territories and explore new possibilities.

I believe that even the big goals I see now will eventually become small victories in the future. By pursuing progress in this way, I hope to bring greater contentment to my life. Have you ever tried the "Do it now, figure it out later" approach? If so, what significant progress have you made towards your life goals?

💊 Did you know?

The primary method of detecting fire in a domestic setting is through the sense of smell. However, the human olfactory system (sense of smell) has limited awareness during sleep and is therefore not considered reliable for fire detection. To address this issue, technology has provided an alternative by utilizing the auditory system (sense of hearing). This led to the creation of smoke alarms, which are still widely used today.

✍🏻 Quote for the week