Have you ever noticed how easy it is to read about doing something, watch someone else do it beautifully on video, and feel like you’ve somehow done your part — only to realise later that you haven’t actually done the thing at all?
We live in a world overflowing with advice, tutorials, and inspiration. We scroll through endless feeds of creativity, organisation, wellness, and self-improvement. We save posts, pin ideas, and tell ourselves we’ll get to them soon. And in that moment of saving or watching, we get a little spark of satisfaction — a small illusion of progress. But the truth is: the doing is where the real joy lives.
The Illusion of Doing
Psychologists call this vicarious satisfaction. When we watch someone else do something — paint, cook, clean, travel, organise their home — our brains release a gentle wave of dopamine, the same chemical associated with pleasure and reward.
It tricks us.
We get that hit of “achievement” without lifting a finger. It’s why a tidy-home video can make us feel momentarily calm, or an artist’s reel can make us feel inspired, even if our paints remain untouched.
It’s not our fault — the modern world is designed this way. We can access limitless knowledge at any time, and that feels empowering. But if we stay in that state of preparation and never cross the bridge into participation, we rob ourselves of the deeper fulfilment that comes from creating, moving, or simply trying.
The Magic of Doing
When we actually do the thing — when we pick up the brush, step outside, clean the drawer, or plant the seed — our body joins the experience. We move from thinking into being.
And it feels amazing.
Because action isn’t just about outcome; it’s about embodiment.
Making art, for example, isn’t simply about producing something pretty. It’s about feeling the bristles drag through paint, watching colours merge, and getting lost in that quiet space where your mind softens. None of that happens by watching someone else do it — it happens when you join in.
The same goes for cleaning, gardening, or exercising. We can read every productivity book or mindfulness blog (and yes, even this one!) — but the healing, energising part begins the moment we act.
That moment changes the chemistry of your brain. Movement increases serotonin and dopamine, focusing on the task quiets the restless noise of thought, and before long you’re not chasing motivation anymore — you’re in flow.
Research is Good — But Don’t Get Stuck There
There’s nothing wrong with preparation. Research can be inspiring, even grounding. Watching tutorials can teach us new techniques. Reading others’ experiences can reassure us that we’re not alone in our hesitations.
But at some point, we have to stop gathering and start growing.
Imagine you’re standing on the edge of a river, reading all about how to swim. You know the techniques, the best strokes, the safest spots — but you’ll never feel the cool water, or the way it holds you up, until you step in.
The first moments might be awkward or uncomfortable. Your strokes might be clumsy. But the exhilaration of doing the thing always outweighs the fear of not doing it perfectly.
Doing Feeds the Spirit
When we move from watching to doing, we reconnect with our bodies, our senses, and our own agency. We remember what it feels like to be alive — not just thinking, but living.
Every time we do something hands-on — painting, writing, baking, fixing, cleaning, building — we bring ourselves into the present. We touch, see, smell, and engage. We create a tangible mark on the world, however small.
This act of doing anchors us. It gives shape to our days and reminds us that joy is not something to chase or plan — it’s something to practice.
The Reward of Real Experience
Have you ever finally done the thing you’d been avoiding or researching for weeks — and thought, why didn’t I do this sooner?
Maybe it was finally starting that art project, clearing that shelf, or taking that walk you’d been meaning to. That little rush of relief and satisfaction isn’t just mental — it’s physical. When we complete a task, our brain releases endorphins and dopamine, rewarding us for following through. That’s why doing things, however small, can boost mood, reduce anxiety, and even help with sleep.
There’s also a ripple effect: once we do one small thing, it’s easier to do the next. Action builds momentum. It becomes a rhythm.
You Don’t Have to Do It All — Just Start
Doing doesn’t have to mean doing everything. It can mean starting where you are, with what you have, for a few minutes.
If you’ve been watching others paint, grab a scrap of paper and just play with colour.
If you’ve been following cleaning tips, tidy one shelf.
If you’ve been dreaming about writing, jot down one paragraph.
If you’ve been reading about mindfulness, take three slow breaths and notice your surroundings.
Each of these small acts is powerful. They move you from thought to life.
And once you’re in motion, your energy shifts. You realise the satisfaction that comes from doing isn’t something you can get secondhand — it’s something you earn through presence, movement, and engagement.
The Joy of Living, Not Just Learning
Learning is beautiful. Research is important. But living — really living — happens when we show up and do the thing.
We’re not here to be observers of life. We’re here to take part. To get messy, to try, to make mistakes, and to make again.
So next time you catch yourself deep in research mode, scrolling through inspiration, or watching someone else live the life you’re dreaming of — pause. Smile. Take one tiny step toward doing your own version.
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to begin.
Because the truth is, we’d all be a lot happier if we were doing more of the things that light us up — not just thinking about them.
So go ahead.
Put down the phone.
Roll up your sleeves.
And do the thing.
This post is a collaborative effort between AI and myself in order to work a little bit faster.
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Do the Thing: Why Action Can Feed the Soul.
