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Whenever I’m stalled in taking action, my mom says, “Honey, time just goes by.” What she means is that time will go by whether you do something or not, so you might as well move forward. Ironically, my yoga practice has made me more action-oriented. It has given me the ability to balance my thirst for knowledge with the discipline of mindful action. At a certain point, you must move from the intellectual realm (“I know what to do”) to the experiential realm (“I am actually doing it”). In yoga, the study of philosophical texts is important. However, you must practice to receive the full benefit. It’s one thing to read about the virtues of breathing and meditation; it’s quite another thing to experience the sense of calm and clarity from exhaling deeply and focusing the mind. This same principle applies to all areas of your life. For example, if you are trying to lose weight, reading a diet book is not going to miraculously help you shed pounds. You have to actually eat better and move more. Similarly, if you want to become known as an expert in a particular field, thinking about it won’t make it happen. You need to start writing articles, speaking at events, etc.