“There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” - John F. Kennedy, American president
If something is important to you and you keep putting it off – whether it’s finishing a project, calling a prospective client, making time for your family or getting physically fit – you need to get honest with yourself.
WHAT is holding you back from taking the first step?
Take a minute to write down your answer to this question. Right now.
If your response includes blaming other people or your circumstances, I challenge you to dig deeper to uncover the real reasons.
It’s easy to make excuses and much more difficult to be totally honest with yourself. The truth is, no one is holding you back but you.
When you fail to do what you know you could be doing, there’s a greater consequence than simply the “thing” not getting done. Now you must also deal with the impact this procrastination has taken on your self-esteem. You lose self-respect when you don’t fulfill a commitment you’ve made to yourself.
The problem then is that your damaged self-image becomes even less motivated to take action because of the bad feelings associated with the previous cycle of intention and inaction.
So what do you do?
Commit to taking one action. Do something you can feel good about. And give yourself credit for taking that step. Celebrate your accomplishment, however small, and take time to experience positive feelings. When you need to take the next step, recall how good you felt after the first one.
Small successes, when acknowledged, strengthen your resolve and your self-respect. And your chances for building momentum have also increased dramatically.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt, American president
"Only he who does nothing makes a mistake." - French Proverb
"Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” - Sun Tzu, Chinese philosopher
