A quote from James Clear (author of Atomic Habits) that stuck with me is this: “Most of the time, you don’t need more information, you need more courage.”

For me, information gathering is a great way to procrastinate. As I’m contemplating something I need to do—whether quitting drinking or launching Disrupting Drinking—I can postpone the big moment by telling myself I’m preparing by gathering information on the best way to tackle X. But that information gathering phase can go on indefinitely. When is anyone satisfied that they have enough information to take a big leap, especially as social media reels play on every self-doubt?

Every time I open Instagram I’m faced with a barrage of “hooks” that try to convince me I’m making horrible mistakes in my everyday life or in what I’m about to do. “Here’s why your morning coffee is making you MORE TIRED!” “Here’s why your exercise routine is making you fatter!” Every reel suggests that I know nothing about health, skin care, hair care, public speaking, growing a business, literally every aspect of my life, even ones I never thought about. Insecurities grow and grow. So, I gather more and more information on how to fix these problems I never knew I had. And I delay and delay taking real action. As if when I ACTUALLY start the thing I’ve been putting off, I’ll do it perfectly because of all the time spent information gathering. Nonsense.

If knowledge were enough, we’d all have made our procrastinated changes by now. We don’t need more information. We need more courage.

If what’s holding you back is fear of screwing up, I get that. I live that. I started a Disrupting Drinking Instagram account MONTHS ago, put out a couple of pre-made videos from the initial launch, and then froze up when I imagined recording myself. I thought about the awkwardness, and then started to information gather on how to make reels!

Friends, it’s time for some courage.  We know we can do hard things. Whatever it is you’ve been putting off, take the first step this week. I will, too, and will report back next week on what that was.