Remember that project you were dying to start, but never did?
You know, that one you couldn’t stop thinking about.
Perhaps you told your friends and family. Perhaps you went out and bought the supplies. And, perhaps you even thought about how awesome it would be once you completed it.
In the beginning, your enthusiasm showed. Your tone was bright, glowing, and eager. That smile on your face beamed with excitement.
Then, something happened.
You didn’t know how to approach the first step. You started thinking about all of the steps after step one, several more unfamiliar tasks. All of a sudden, excuses disguised as reasons start popping up in your head. The laundry needs to get done, your favorite show comes on soon, and you haven’t planned dinner yet. In a short period, you’ve built a mountain from a molehill. The end goal seemed to drift further and further from your grasp.
We’ve all been there.
Giving up was my congenital defect
Throughout my life, I neglected to start more ventures than I care to remember. I let those at the moment, brilliant ideas fade away into the abyss. I feared failure. And, in some cases, I left great opportunities on the table to die.
When the brilliance struck, I told anyone who would listen. I felt enthusiastic but often received diminishing responses. My loved ones and family, who suffer from this same ailment, would bring light to the high chance of failure. The cost of trying. And, would question, “well, what if fails and you lose everything?”
Before I could start, I felt defeated. I felt destined to fail. I felt stuck.
So, I gave up. Then did whatever it took to forget it.
At the age of 35, I recognized this pattern. Looking back on the missed opportunities took a toll on me. Over the years, I worked jobs that I didn’t enjoy for the guaranteed outcomes when I could have taken a risk and done the things that would have brought me joy and wealth.
I decided to start
After this epiphany, I decided that going forward, when I wanted to try something that I would. I would immediately take the first step and start the project. Instead of waiting for the right time, I would jump right in and go for it.
From eating better to working out to building a patio to learning woodworking and more, the time to start became now.
Quickly, I learned that failure is an essential part of learning and growth. Often, the quickest way.
When you fail, a new opportunity arises.
The opportunity to figure out the right way, the better way, or the way to fix it.
In the year since I decided to start, I’ve failed more times than I had in the past 30 plus years. But, I’ve accomplished a lot more too! And I have a total of ZERO regrets.
The time is now – Start!
The great news is that it is never too late to start. As long as you are still breathing air, there is time to go after what you want in life. Many household-name success stories didn’t start until their 40s, 50s, or later. Thus, I feel grateful to have figured out this secret at 35.
I assure you that it is more fulfilling to try and fail than to let your dreams fade away.
Get out there, make mistakes, have fun. And, seriously, START! Whatever it is, if you want to do it, then do it. Once you get this ball rolling, you won’t want to stop.
Each day, you will feel like you’ve accomplished something. Sometimes, it will be figuring out what not to do. These accomplishments will bring you joy and keep you focused on the present.
The truth is, no matter what moment you are in, the time is always NOW. You spend every second of your life in the now, so make the best of it.
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