There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. – Aldous Huxley

“Ok. I’m done growing and learning now,” said no one ever!

Or at least… that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

The longer I coach, the clearer a pattern becomes: somewhere along the line, people stop focusing on their big, expanded goals.

This isn’t because they’re lazy or defeated, mind you. They have great careers, booming businesses, and beautiful families.

But because of all this success, their focus is always pointed toward what’s going on around them. They’re making sure their kids get to college, or their work stays profitable.

The downside to all these achievements? Simple. They require a lot of attention on the external. That means losing sight of something equally important:

Themselves. Their big, beautiful goals. Their craving for change. Their legacy.

While they might remember wanting to solve the worldwide water crisis or write a literary masterpiece, they’ve become experts at shrugging those dreams away. I hear them make quips like…

“Oh, that’s not for me anymore,”

“I just don’t have the time.”

“I’ll get to it when [the kids are done with school/my partner, and I retire/I have enough cash to make it happen].”

Any of those terms sound familiar to you? Thought they might. Well, here’s the truth:

The problem with time is… it eventually runs out

When you’re in your last days on Earth, you’ll never, ever think to yourself  “I wish I’d waited longer.”
Time and life won’t hold off until you’re ready.

Wrapped up in our “success bubbles,” it’s easy to forget we’re not invincible. That something could happen in an hour/month/year from now that could make your lifelong dreams impossible.

Take it from me. I woke up one morning to arthritis that kept me bedridden for six months.  For the first time, all those things I’d been waiting for – a life between NYC and NZ, a career I loved, and the happiness I craved – almost disappeared.

Are you ready for that reality? 

Then there are the long-term effects of life dreams on the back burner. We gradually become more and more stuck in place and watch our motivation fizzle. We become frustrated, bored and run down.

What Are You Going to Do About It?

It is time to quit lying to yourself, and saying you’ll “get to it.” Delaying a goal isn’t going to make you proud of the way you live your life, is it?

Your dreams still matter. You still matter. Whatever you have on your plate, your creativity, self-worth, and craving to change the world still matter.

I know you’re an action-taker. So start putting that trait to work for yourself, already!

Stop waiting to be the person you always wanted to be. It’s time to take action – your way.

Enough of the excuse that change is too hard or too painful!

Once you accept you’re sick of the status quo, it can be a major adventure that you can tweak to fit in with your already-packed schedule.

And it can start right now. You just need to hone in.

Ready to rock it? Start by answering these questions:

Take out a pen and paper, or open a word doc, and fill out your responses to the following:

What are some things you say more than once a year that begin or end with “I’ll do that when…”

What are the obstacles you feel are in your way?

What effect is not taking action causing you in your life?

Will your life be happier and more fulfilled by choosing to do nothing? (y/n)

Will you feel proud of that decision or will you know you took the easy route? (y/n)

If you died in 7 days time, would you be happy with how you are living your life now? (y/n)

Take your answers seriously. They’ll be your guide in the weeks and years ahead as you make steady progress to those once-forgotten goals.

Now, It’s Time for Action!

Pick one “one-day” item from the list above. Put a daily reminder in your phone or on a post-it note on your computer, reminding you of that item. After no more than two weeks of looking at it, and meditating on how you’ll get it done, write down one action step you are going to take this month.

After the month is over and you complete your step, create another. And another. Until before you know it, you’ve created exactly what you wanted!

You deserve to leave the world a better place.

You deserve to be seen, heard, and adored.

You deserve everything you want in this life – and more!

Step up and claim it. It’s waiting for you!

Photo by hdworld