I was reading a magazine recently when something caught my eye. The article mentioned that most people that exercised regularly (and as a result tended to be in the best shape) were those guys and gals that didn’t so much plan out when they would work out, but rather simply worked out regularly without giving much thought to specifically when they would make time to do so.
At first I thought to myself … self, how on earth with such busy lives that we lead do these folks ever find the time to get their work outs in?
After a bit of pondering on this it became glaringly obvious that by taking this approach they weren’t allowing themselves to fall victim to the part of us that over analyzes things. You know the one I’m talking about.
The part of us that says I don’t have time to work out — I’ve got to get home in time to make dinner. I’ve got to stay late at the office. I’ve got to (insert whatever you’d like here). No, they simply acted on their initial impulse to work out. To get that bit of exercise they felt they needed.
Such a simple thought, to do that set of push ups or go for that walk or run instead of going through all the trouble to schedule it in.
I couldn’t help but think, by how applying this same approach to just about any of our goals we wouldn’t find ourselves getting more accomplished.
Consider how many lost goals and otherwise would be achievements we experience simply because we wait around for the right time to get started — and in the process never get the necessary action going to get started in the first place.
Take a moment to really give the above statement some thought…
Is there ever really a “perfect time” to set out in pursuit of your goals? I mean really. Is a month from now, two weeks, or a day from now going to be any better than right now at this very moment. Probably not. That’s just the way things work.
Life is filled with any number of things that will shift and change and inevitably occupy our limited time, if we don’t first take the initiative to fill it with those things we want to implement in our lives.
Each of us is given the same number of hours in the day (24 — last I checked). The same number of days in a week — 7. And days in a year … 365 (unless it’s a leap year).
Starting now get into the mind set that time — or a lack there of won’t stop you from working towards achieving those things that you want to see manifest in your life. Instead of looking for the right time to get started, just get going on them and allow yourself the wiggle room to move and adapt to any change that might be necessary to get you to where you want to be.
As the saying goes, “you don’t have to get it right starting out, you just have to get going”.
Change is inevitable, and in some instances it is true that we can’t control every single thing that happens to us. Even so there are active steps we can take that will help to guide us in the direction of those things we desire. Simply sitting still and idle is one sure way to keep yourself from realizing your dreams.
Dream big and feed your dreams with the necessary amount of action and as a result you are sure to attain your own definition of success.
Keep this thought in mind: Even the best laid out goals are simply dreams until you add the fuel of action that gets you on the path towards achieving them.
— Here’s to your success, Josh Hinds
* Josh Hinds is the author of Why Perfect Timing is a Myth: Tips for Staying Inspired and Motivated Day in and Day out! and It’s Your Life, LIVE BIG!