How to Move from 'Knowing' to 'Doing' Using Your Left-Brain, Right-Brain

We love learning new knowledge, we grasp it quickly and feel motivated that it will change our lives. But instead, we remained stuck at the 'knowing' stage and started to get frustrated for not making any progress.

Knowledge gained but not executed (actioned upon) becomes a burden and starts to fire back because now you understand what you are and what you can be.

The gap between knowing and doing primarily exists because knowledge often resides in our logical brain, but for actions to result, this knowledge must resonate with our emotional brain.

Understanding and navigating through this transition can significantly impact our personal and professional growth. There are seven stages we have to progress through to transform our knowledge into habits:

1. Awareness: Recognizing the Knowledge

The first step is becoming aware of the knowledge. This stage is purely intellectual and involves understanding a concept or a fact. For instance, recognizing the benefits of a healthy diet falls into this category. The state of mind here is predominantly observational and analytical.

2. Acknowledgment: Valuing the Knowledge

Acknowledgment goes beyond awareness. It involves appreciating the value or importance of this knowledge in a broader context. You not only understand the healthy diet but also acknowledge its importance for well-being.

3. Contemplation: Personalizing the Knowledge

Here, you start relating the knowledge to your own life, contemplating how it aligns with your personal goals or values. This is a transitional phase where the logical brain starts interacting with the emotional brain. You might think about how a healthy diet could improve your personal health and well-being.

4. Emotional Connection: Feeling the Knowledge

At this stage, the knowledge begins to resonate emotionally. You start to feel strongly about the idea, for example, experiencing a genuine concern for your health that makes the concept of a healthy diet more than just a logical understanding.

5. Planning: Strategizing the Implementation

Now, the knowledge starts turning into intention. You begin planning how to incorporate this knowledge into actions, such as designing a healthy meal plan. This stage often involves practical thinking and a bit of trial and error.

6. Habit Formation: Practicing the Knowledge

This is where the action takes place. You start implementing your plans. It’s the phase of habit formation, consistently choosing healthy meals over unhealthy ones. It’s often challenging and requires persistence and resilience.

7. Integration: Living the Knowledge

Finally, the knowledge becomes a part of your life. The actions are no longer forced but become a natural part of your daily routine. Here, the emotional brain fully embraces the actions driven by the initial knowledge.

The transition from 'knowing' to 'doing' is not just about acquiring information; it's about transforming that information into actions that resonate with both your logical and emotional beings. Each step plays a crucial role in this journey.

Ideas without execution are of no value. Now that you understand what it takes to move yourself from 'knowing' to 'doing', do not keep it as knowledge only. For matters, that are important in your life, make an action plan.

By understanding and consciously moving through these steps, you will bridge the gap between your ideas and your actions, leading to a more accomplished and enriched life.**