It's Sunday morning, and I am alone in the house with the dogs. I have enjoyed my coffee in the backyard and now sit at the dining room table with my laptop and coffee hoping to write something profound to share with all of you. "What am I going to write about this morning?" says the voice in my head. And then, I open my notebook to my notes from the latest mastermind meeting with Amy to see the next topic I have chosen - "When is the right time?" This morning it feels like there were no truer words. Sometimes - most of the times - there really is no right time. You just have to start.
The idea that there never is the right time to start something comes out of the mastermind meetings with Amy. So much good has been coming out of these meetings. As an example, I set a new goal to record and post more videos, both pre-recorded and live videos. In the past, I have avoided making videos because the time was never right. I didn't have the right equipment, didn't have the right setting, my makeup and hair wasn't done, or I didn't have a topic to discuss. Here's the thing. The more it wasn't the right time, the more I procrastinated the project, which meant that I was staying inside my comfort zone way too long.
Basically, you're never going to feel 100% ready. That's being human. Have you ever thought about starting something new or setting a new goal but didn't set out to accomplish it because it was so scary and so far outside of what you're used to? But at the same time, you really want to try it or hit that new goal? The tiny voice inside your head might be saying, "Not yet. Let's wait until ...." Listen, it doesn't matter what the "until" is in your sphere. The "until" is just a roadblock. It's your subconscious mind trying to tell you that it can't be done.
Well, I want you to know that it can be done. It doesn't have to be done exactly right when you start. The point is that you started. Lao Tzu says, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Start stepping.
Do you need some help starting? Get an accountability partner or enroll a cheerleader. My husband is my number one cheerleader and motivator. He encourages me to try the things I talk about and helps me stay on track when I get down on myself for feeling like I can't complete something. (BTW, a cheerleader can be someone who tells you things you don't want to hear, too. That's okay!) An accountability partner is someone who keeps you on track with specific outlined goals. In this case, Amy and I set out action items to accomplish every time we meet. This gives me specific actionable items on my To-Do list that move me toward the ultimate end goal. (And the BTW here, the goal will be ever moving farther and farther away to help you grow more and more.)
As I get older, I find it easier to make excuses not to do something new, which seems contradictory since I am much wiser than I was just five years ago. I need an accountability partner. In fitness, I recently decided to set new goals that were way outside my scope and comfort zone. I entered bikini competitions. In two years, I competed and won my second show tall class. It was exhilarating! But, I had to enroll some help. I enlisted two coaches to get me there. I bring this up now because I did my first show at 38 years old and won at 39 years old. What!!! I had put off the decision to train and prep for the competition because I didn't have enough confidence that it was the right time. As 40 rapidly approached (and has since arrived), I realized that it's now or never. In other words, I might never make the decision to train for the competition because the time might never be right. Well, that's a load of crap! Just make the decision and commit to the training, commit to hitting the goal. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Every day, my clients make the decision to come to the gym for a workout. There are so many times when I hear that they really did not want to go to the gym but dragged themselves there anyway. About five minutes in, their tune has completely changed to, "I am so glad I am here."
People who are new to exercise might be telling themselves the same thing. "It's just not the right time." "I have a baby at home." "I'm pregnant." "I have too much work." "I am already overcommitted and couldn't possibly add one more thing." EXCUSES!!! Every one!
There is never a right time!
You have to take a moment to ask yourself, "WHY?" And if you can't come up with a good why, try "WHY NOT?" Write down the pros and cons if you have to, but I can almost guarantee, you cannot come up with enough reasons not to do it. If it's money, there is always a way around to get what you want. No, I'm not talking about anything illegal. Perhaps you can barter, or trade services. If you don't start now, you may never start. And, you don't want to be on your death bed thinking of all the things you thought about accomplishing but didn't even start because it was never the right time.
Time to call B.S. on yourself. The time is NOW.