Why “Just Do It” Doesn’t Work. I’ve reached a point in my life where I… | by Sam | Jul, 2026 | MediumSitemapOpen in appSign up<br>Sign in

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A Definition for Action<br>A Table for Action-Taking<br>Result

Why “Just Do It” Doesn’t Work

Sam

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I’ve reached a point in my life where I realize that everything I want sits on the other side of action. Earlier this week, I randomly recalled a computer science lecture on state machines. It’s inspired me draw a rough analogy to life and action-taking.<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

At any point in life, one is in a particular state. Humans have a tendency to always project forward (see Martin Heidegger), so there is always a desired state we want to be in. Now, how does one bridge the gap between the current and desired state?<br>In a State Machine, the edges between states are rules or paths that allow the system to move from one state to another. Something analogues happens in life, but we move from one state to another state through a series of actions.<br>Therefore, to get clarity on what to do at any moment in life, one can pause and simply ask:<br>what is my current state?<br>What state do I want to be in?<br>What are actions that will get me there?<br>Then, simply execute those actions. This way, action can be grasped as the activity we do in order to move from a current unsatisfactory state to a new desired state in life. And any achievement in life can be seen as just a process of moving through states through action.<br>But if action be so important (Jean-Paul Sartre stressed “There is no reality except in action”), then why are there still impediments to action-taking and how can they be overcome?<br>First, I think it’s important to recognize that “action” is merely a word that generalizes a phenomenon that is really quite multifaceted and complex. I believe people often simplify action advice to “just do it”, because they can’t articulate well enough with it is, even if they can do it well enough.<br>Second, I desire a more systematic approach rather than a mere shallow motivational speech. That type of advice seeks to arouse the emotions, which may work temporarily, but reason will inevitable regain its supremacy and we’re back to the initial problem.<br>I believe I have come up with one systematic approach to action-taking that is promising.<br>A Definition for Action<br>Definitions are always a good place to start. As mentioned before, we use the word “action” frequently, but often as a generalization for phenomenon that is more complex than what appears on the surface. People who have an intuitive grasp of action benefit from the generalization, but people who struggle with it are left in the dark.<br>If you just Google the definition of action, you get something like:<br>Press enter or click to view image in full size

This is not a very helpful definition, as it doesn’t clarify much. “Doing something” is just a synonym for “action.” It defines the word by restating it rather than explaining it.<br>I faced the same challenge across other dictionaries, so I finally went through the rabbit hole of philosophy. Jean-Paul Sartre, a pioneer of existentialism, finally rescued me. His definition of action roughly goes:<br>Action is choice expressed through movement toward a goal .

Let’s test each component of this definition, to see whether it is all necessary. Movement alone does not constitute action. For instance, a hiccup is a movement but it wouldn’t be considered an action.<br>In the same vein, making choices in one’s mind is not action, unless that choice is uttered to someone or expressed some other way through movement. For instance, you can imagine all you want the scenarios of asking your crush out, but none of those decisions in your mind mean anything in reality, unless there is movement accompanying the choice, such as actually walking up to your crush and asking them out.<br>Then I was trying to think about whether it is possible to make a choice and express it through movement, but not toward any goal. I couldn’t come up with a satisfactory example. Even seemingly aimless actions, like tapping one’s foot, have implicit goals. For instance, to alleviate one’s anxiety or boredom. Perhaps it suffices then to define action as simply choice expressed through movement (since a goal is always given when choice and movement combine).<br>Action is choice expressed through movement .

However, there is a significance to the goal aspect of Sartre’s definition that makes me want to pause and reconsider. The choice and accompanying movement toward a simple goal like relieving an itch is very easy, while the choice and accompanying movement towards a complex goal like making a million dollars is very difficult.<br>Therefore, I am led to conclude that actions are hard or easy in proportion to the difficulty of its goal . So I retain the original definition:<br>Action is choice expressed through movement toward a goal...