February 17, 2016
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best is now.”
-Chinese Proverb
“If you focus on every piece you need to know and do, you’ll never start; start now, learn as you go.”
I had another birthday the other day. How old am I? Don’t know. Can’t remember, but I know I’m young enough that that shouldn’t be a thing. I could do the math, but then writing time is writing time. Arithmetic will have to wait it’s turn.
People tend to panic over birthdays. Feelings of being too old come up. They’re afraid they haven’t done enough, I guess.
Not me, because I’ve got the secret sauce!
Understanding the Best Time to Act
Before we get to that cream-based goodness, (what, you were expecting a tomato-base secret sauce?) we need to understand how to determine the best time to act. Depending on the magnitude of the decision you may need to ask yourself various questions, like:
Have I adequately prepared for this task? Would waiting increase the likelihood of successful action? Am I financially stable enough for this action, presently? Did I remember to put on underwear today?
Just kidding. None of that matters! …Almost none of that matters!
Here are the 2 questions you need:
- Are you currently conscious? (ie. not asleep, and not dead)
- Are you actioning something higher on your priority list at present? (ie. employment, another goal, social engagement, desired recreation)
That’s it. If you answered yes to the 1st and no to the 2nd, then now is the best time to act. (Not while you read this, but maybe after.)
That’s because preparation is often an illusion or excuse for inaction. First of all, for most new things no level of preparation is truly going to get you ready until you start experiencing. Secondly, it is far too easy to use “inadequate preparation” as an excuse.
Here’s a quick trick to find out if you are using lack of preparation as an excuse for inaction:
Are you actively and aggressively studying how to take your desired action?
No? Then it’s bogus.
We’re never as prepared as we want to be. We never will be. Carpe Diem! The best time to act is now.
Taking What You Consider “More Important” off the Pedestal
“But I answered yes to question number 2. I have lots of important things I’m working on.”
Ok, I’m with you. So then this really all comes down to priorities. If you are non-dead, or even undead, (zombies always prioritize brain-based secret sauce) it all is only about your priorities. I’m not telling you to blow off work, or forgo any kind of highly necessary R & R from time to time. However it’s easy to use other “important” activities as an excuse.
Force yourself to ask “What do I really want?” or “Do I really want ____?”
This line of thought helps us to re-evaluate what is actually important. If that isn’t enough, here are a few more things to remember.
- Just because you spent a lot of or extra time on something, doesn’t automatically make it important. (Sorry)
- Just because other people think you should do something, doesn’t automatically make it important.
- Just because you are good at it, doesn’t automatically make it important.
- Just because it needs done by someone, doesn’t automatically make it important for you to do.
Yes some unimportant tasks just need done from time to time. (ie chores, checking mail, cleaning, ect) Do them. But keep them in their place mentally.
Practice taking your idea of what is important off the pedestal. Toss it back and forth in your hands a bit, and then decide if it’s a priceless crystal vase, or just another plastic bowl.
The Secret Sauce
So how do I keep my head straight when I’m feeling crushed by unobtained goals, or like time is flying by? What’s the secret sauce?
I breath. I breath in this moment because, well, it truly is incredible. It is, in fact, the only time you can, have ever, or will ever make a difference. Now is the only time action can take place. Now is the only time you are granted the insane gift of control. It always will be. It always has been.
So don’t get bogged down in what the past looks like, or what the future might.
Breath in this moment.
Act.
-Michael Speck