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We've all said it at one time or another. "Someday I'll..." or "One of these days, I'll..."
Someday I'll... start writing my book; ask her to marry me; go on a diet; begin my new business; go back to school; find a new job; start saving for our future.
What is your "Someday "I'll"
Well, my friend, let me be the first to inform you that today is that someday you've been waiting for.
There was a popular quotation that appeared in the 1960's that reminded us that, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." It could be seen on tee shirts, poster and signs everywhere. I'm not sure who actually started it. It's been attributed to Bob Dylan.
There will never be a better time to begin whatever it is you've been wanting to begin.
The reason is simple. Now is the only time there is and the only time there will ever be. As title of my second book reminds us, "This is Your Life, Not a Dress Rehearsal." What are you waiting for?
We all have a tendency to use the "Someday I'll" excuse as a way to seduce ourselves into thinking we're actually doing something when, in fact, all we're doing is procrastinating.
We delude ourselves into believing that we will, one day soon, do whatever it is we really want to do but haven't yet begun, probably because of our fear of not succeeding.
So how do you change this?
Something I learned over twenty years ago is that we do things for basically one of two reasons. We either want to gain pleasure or avoid pain. That's it folks. Everything we do breaks down to one or, more likely a combination of both these emotional states.
The simple way to motivate yourself to do what it is you've been wanting to do is quite simple. Take control of the "carrot and the stick" of the perceived pain and pleasure connected to your action.
Let's say, for example, that you want to write and publish a book. This happens to be something near and dear to me, having done it and experienced the immense pleasure of becoming a successful author and touching the lives of people all over the world. I can't even describe how it feels to have had a positive effect on so many people. Beyond the financial success or the notoriety it is this feeling that drives me to continue to write.
Of course, when I was starting out, I didn't have this to inspire me. I had to create it in my imagination. I had to imagine how great it would feel to be living the life I now enjoy. I had to imagine people all over the world benefiting from reading my books.
This was the "carrot," the pleasure motivator.
On the other side of the equation, and because I feel they're both useful at different times, was the "stick" or pain motivator. For me, this was imagining what I would be missing out on if I didn't do it.
Paying attention to my health and fitness was even easier to get leverage on. One morning I sat quietly, eyes closed, and projected out twenty years. I then imagined what my life would be like if I continued my unhealthy food choices and continued to ignore physical exercise.
Believe me when I tell you that what I saw scared me. I realized that if I didn't change my habits, I was looking at a depressing future.
I then projected how I would feel, not only twenty years out, but in the immediate future as well... if I took action immediately.
I remember that day like it was yesterday, even though it was, now, more than twenty years ago. After taking a few minutes to write in my journal the result of my "carrot and stick" exercise so I could continue to refer to it to stay motivated, I got up, put on a pair of sneakers and started an exercise program and I've stayed with it pretty much since.
Sure I may slack off, hey I'm human too, but I am always aware of my health and exercise choices and have remained committed to my health sine that day.
Whatever it is you want to do "someday," begin it today.
Take a few minutes and write out your desire(s). Sit quietly and imagine you took action and it's now ten or twenty years into the future. What are all the benefits you've enjoyed because you acted today? What have you been able to do because of this action? What has it meant to your family and community?
Write it in your journal.
Next, do the reverse. What has it cost you because you didn't take action? What is it already costing you now? Chances are, not doing something has some unpleasant consequence in the present as well.
Write that in your journal.
I think you can guess the next step.
Begin!
For, as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said,
"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!'
Jim Donovan is the author of several international best-selling books and an inspiring motivational speaker. For a no cost subscription to his classic, Jim's Jems ezine, a bonus audio and special report, visit http://www.jimdonovan.com/
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