We or people we know have used the phrase “I’m waiting for the perfect time.” Waiting for the “perfect time” is a big myth. I’ll go you one better, it is an excuse. Now I’m not advocating knee jerk behavior, however I am advocating forward movement. “The perfect time” is always in the now. Maybe that doesn’t mean start and completion but it does mean start and forward movement. Have you ever had an idea you did not act on, waiting for the perfect time, and then you see someone else has come up with it and move forward with it? They knew the perfect time was “now.” Acting now is always the perfect time. Does it guarantee success, no, but it does guarantee growth. How many people have ‘failed’ when they acted? Tons, big deal, the majority of those so-called ‘failures’ paved the way for someone’s eventual success. I believe Mark Victor Hansen nails it: “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” ~ Mark Victor Hansen
Are You The Problem Or The Solution?
Right now there is a huge amount of talk about the actions, or perhaps inaction, of our elected officials regarding our national debt and what to do about it and the budget. Lots of talk, lots of chatter, lots of complaining about the situation. Question, where is the action piece? Whether it is government, family, friends, work, or whatever you want to throw in the mix has merely complaining about an issue ever been the magic bullet needed to change it? No, no it has not. If you want to complain about your government, your family, spouse, friend, boss, co-worker…you best be able to back your complaining with actionable solutions. Otherwise all you have is whining and loser talk. It is doubtful that is what you want to be known for in any situation.
Accepting Help vs Expecting Others To Do It For You
My biggest, fattest most overwhelming challenge is my ability to ask for and/or accept help. I know this and I am working on being more open and letting the blessings flow not just out of me, but back to me as well. Having said that it does bring to light that we all need help on occasion. And asking for help is a brave and lovely thing to do as it allows others to give and feel glorious doing it. Not to mention it feels outstanding to feel the support of others. The converse to this scenario however is expecting help, in which I mean having others do for you what you should be doing for yourself to grow. Looking for and getting others to do your work is many things. It is convenient, easy, saves time, etc. What it is not however is helpful or empowering. Every time we face a challenge or hurdle there is opportunity for growth and empowerment. It is all to easy to spend more time trying to parse out, or excuse away, what you do not ‘feel’ like doing or want to do then it would have taken to just do it. It boils down to this, if you have the capability to do something new, and you know in your head and/or heart it is your responsibility to do so, do it. If you do not have the capability, ask for help, and then be open and grateful in receiving it.
Get Or Say What You Want…People Can’t Read Your Mind
The following post from another blog is both entertaining as well as sound advice. Don’t wait around for someone to give you what you want or do what you want. They can’t read your mind. Do or get what you want for yourself, or at the very least share what it is with someone who wants to do it for you! http://www.pajamasandcoffee.com/?p=4945
Why Me? Why Not?
I am not really a ‘why me’ kind of girl. I am more of a ‘what can I learn from this’ or ‘how can someone else be helped by learning from my mis-judgements.’ It just seems more productive doesn’t it? Otherwise, what is the point? Having said the previous the downside to it is I am very much not a girl who is open to hearing complaining, repetitious whining and/or excuses. Part of my lack of tolerance was born out of a conversation in the hospital about seventeen years ago. It took place right before my Father died. I was in my twenties. I remember a friend of the family, a Pastor, being there while my Father was still in a coma. This Pastor had a son that died tragically while still young. And while in the hospital, I do not recall who, but someone asked this Pastor about his son’s death and ‘why his family?’ Pastor’s response was, “Why not? No one is exempt from life’s opportunities for growth and sharing; and sometimes it comes in a package that begins with pain.” That Pastor’s comment was a pivot point for me. I signal to be kind and gentle with all who are facing challenges. However, for me it is also attached with the premise of ‘you must at least be trying.’ I don’t care if you are trying and struggling, trying and failing, trying and restructuring, doesn’t matter. Just try. Trying is movement, forward movement. Although Homer Simpson did say “Trying is the first step in failing,” trying beats whining and/or immobility every time. I guarantee this. Next time you are stuck, or overwhelmed or tempted to say ‘why me’ remember, ‘why not’ you. And remember the following when you are whiling away hours, days, weeks, etc. coming up with your laundry list of excuses and instead switch your game up and try: “Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.”~Mark Victor Hansen