It can tempting to put things off until tomorrow (or some other arbitrary date in the future that will probably never happen) when you have x, y or z. You’ll take more pictures with your family when you lose weight, you’ll write your book when inspiration strikes, you’ll eat better when you have more time, you’ll go on a date with your spouse when your kids grow up…The list of excuses is endless and my best advice is: don’t wait to start. For further reinforcement, you can read my past Motivation Monday post entitled “start now” (are you noticing a theme here?).
Sometimes we spend so much time waiting for ideal conditions that we forget to actually live our lives while we hold off for something uncertain in the future that may never happen. The moments in between milestones are your life and, unfortunately, none of us know how much time we have. Don’t wait to start or let a single day go by that you aren’t getting closer to living the life you love and achieving your dreams.
I’m a strong advocate for continuous improvement and always trying to get better. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start working towards your goals right now. You can always pivot your approach as you learn new information, but don’t become stagnant because you’re too busy living in the past or future. Meditation has taught me the power of now and I highly recommend everyone reads:
- Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
- Wherever You Go, There You Are
- Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
- Big Magic
Taking the first step is always the hardest, but you never know what could happen if you open yourself up to new opportunities. What if you fail, get rejected, or feel jealous of others’ success? Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow because it’s also possible none of that will happen. And if it does, you’re well equipped to handle setbacks, get back on your feet and try again. Turn your negative thoughts into encouraging ones and give yourself as much credit as you’d give your best friend. It will be life-changing.
I pursued traditional publishing despite the odds heavily stacked against me and I recently signed a deal to bring Twist of Fate to life in May/June. I didn’t land an agent as I hoped, but I’ve learned so much along the way and I’m happy with the outcome I did achieve. Now I can apply my learning to future books and it can only get better from here. If I never started because I was paralyzed by fear? I wouldn’t be able to share my book with you or closer to becoming a full time writer.
The first person you need to convince to believe in you? Yourself. Make sure to give yourself the credit you deserve, friends.
How do you stay motivated to achieve your goals? How do you talk yourself into getting started?
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