After a movie he wanted very much to see one day – one which neither he nor I ultimately enjoyed – our son, 15, was making fun of the typical angst and anguish of teens (not that he hasn’t had some of his own, mind you…we all go through some of it). Matt, a fairly quiet sort, started into an imitation of a typical lament:

“No one understands me! EVERYONE is against me! And ANYTHING GOOD that I did, I did all by MYSELF!”

Matt’s quick reply…what he would LIKE to say in that situation…was:

“Actually, Bob, we were behind you all the time!”

I laughed, and could think of several circumstances in which that would apply…some involving high-pitched teenage girls, traveling in a pack, some not.

And on that count, in a bad-news item for advocates of unlimited cell phone time and text messaging, a recent University of Missouri study shows that too much talk about problems can do the opposite of what people think it will.

It can get you stuck…send you spiraling…down, into the ground…if you don’t manage it well, to a conclusion…leading to action…producing momentum and energy that propels you over, around, and beyond the barriers that you perceive are holding you back.

A little focused action creates traction that produces an almost self-perpetuating energy that moves you to new perspectives and bigger possibilities, as well.

Step by step progress…even…one…step…at…a…time gets you up, moves you beyond, gets you ahead of “stuckness,” fear, and even dread of what lies ahead.

Put down the phone. Put on your action shoes.

Get going. You’ll be glad you did.