Is there something you want to do, but you haven’t done it yet?
Is there a dream, a project, a talent or hobby you’d like to explore, but you stop yourself before you even begin, or you never really get it off of the ground?
We’re all born with a longing to accomplish something. We’ve all got that inner voice that says “I’d like to write a book,” or “I really want to paint,” or “I see myself owning a cafe by the river.”
Many barriers in life might get in the way of these dreams, but for now, let’s consider focus.
If you focus daily on learning about or accomplishing any task, you’ll grow in expertise and ability to add value. If you don’t focus, your distraction will limit your success.
Choice can cause paralysis. Too many options can be overwhelming.
When I had just returned from the Peace Corps in Togo, I had a moment of panic in the ice cream aisle of an American grocery store.
I had gone to find vanilla ice cream, but there were a thousand kinds of vanilla. I got overwhelmed. There were too many choices.
I think I chose donuts instead.
If there’s anything you want in life, you’ll achieve it by steady action toward that goal over a long period of time.
Sticking to a schedule limits your planning for the day and reduces any time you might spend wondering if you should or should not do an activity. Instead, you simply do the activity, because it’s your time to do so.
If you want to be fit, set aside time for daily exercise and do it. If you want to write a book, set aside writing time and write every day.
Let’s say you want healthy teeth and gums. If you floss every day, just 30 seconds of daily maintenance over the span of many years can have a profound impact on your dental health.
If you do not floss, over time, the disease in your gums will build up and you could have major dental problems.
You could have shining, strong teeth or rotten teeth at the age of sixty, in large part dependent on how you spend 30 seconds every day of your life.
Apply this philosophy to the realization of any goal you care about.
You’ve got to work every day to achieve something. Daily dedication to a goal will lead you toward its accomplishment.
As Joe Louis famously said, “There is no such thing as a natural boxer. A natural dancer has to practice hard. A natural painter has to paint all the time. Even a natural fool has to work at it.”
Don’t give yourself the option to think about if you’ll do the task or not. Set aside a time every day and say ‘this is my fitness time,’ or ‘this is my writing time.’ You could even make a list or add the task to a calendar as an appointment, so that you can feel more official about it, and not feel guilty when you are doing it.
Much energy is wasted in going back and forth, wondering if one should do the thing or if one should snooze on life some more. Do the thing. No questions asked. Make it daily. Don’t give yourself a day off. If it’s something you love, you won’t want a day off. In fact, it should feel like a luxury that you’ve given yourself time to what’s calling you.
And you will notice a huge burst of energy, because you have committed to following your conscience and participating in the work you’re meant to do on earth.
You’ve gone from thinking about it to doing it. Now the outcome doesn’t matter, because you are showing up for the process. And your daily effort will yield great results over time. At minimum: you’ll gain a feeling of self-confidence and self-actualization. You’ll know you can count on yourself to do what needs to be done. And, who can say? You might inspire others with what you bring into the world.
