One challenge I’ve struggled with in the past is “pulling the trigger.”
When I would write emails, I re-read them multiple times before sending. When I would set goals, I wouldn’t chase them right away — that was for “future me.” Of course, a certain level of certainty is needed to ensure accuracy, but for me, this was a dirty mixture of procrastination and laziness.
It wasn’t until my mother told me for years that she wanted to learn Spanish but never did, that I noticed my own similar habit. So I quit.
The idea that you have to have permission or prerequisites to start something is bullshit and toxic to your future (barring practicing medicine, law, and driving a car). You don’t need all Nike gear to start going to the gym. You don’t need the most expensive headset and computer to start a podcast. You don’t need to write for a newspaper to become a blogger. You don’t need a college degree to make boatloads of money. Steve Jobs didn’t need permission to attend college calligraphy classes (he had dropped out by then), which impacted everyone who uses an Iphone today. He slept on the floor of his friend’s room and returned aluminum cans so he could eat. What’s your excuse?
You can’t use the excuse that you’re a beginner. You’ll never feel ready to move up to heavier weights, to write a book, to start investing, or learn an instrument. You tackle big things like you eat an elephant: one bite at a time. And every day you postpone starting new things is one less day of experience you’ll have. Delaying investing destroys compound interest.
I used to believe because I worked a 9-5 job, I just didn’t have enough time to do anything else productive. But everyone from Bill Gates to Lebron James has the same amount of hours in the day. The people who do the most are usually the most productive, decisive, and mindful.
Often times, I don’t change until I’m sick and tired of a certain situation. As I saw the amount of time I spent mindlessly scrolling through useless apps on my phone, I remembered Jobs’ commencement speech in which he talked about his cancer diagnosis and told that graduating class we are closer to death with every passing minute.
Don’t wait until January to set resolutions. Just do it.
I wanted to learn Spanish, so I started practicing Duolingo daily. I wanted to spend my leisure time doing things that recharged me — spending time with friends, family, and improving myself — so I re-evaluated how I spend my time. I wanted to become a better writer, so I forced myself to blog daily. I wanted to appreciate the small things in life instead of living vicariously through others, so I installed blocks on apps, and I usually keep my phone on Do Not Disturb so I can work without being interrupted by News push alerts every ten minutes.
I’m not perfect yet, but I’m taking life on my own terms and finding the things that really matter to me.