One thing we, as humans, like to do is complain. And because we do it A LOT, we do it very well. We complain that it’s too cold… then complain that it’s too hot. We complain when it rains… then complain when it’s too dry. We complain about the clothes we have, about our jobs, about not having enough money, and just about everything else around us.
The truth is that if we spent half of that complaining time taking action, we’d have more of what we do want, and less of what we don’t. But our minds gravitate toward the whining and away from the solutions.
Today, I want to encourage you to think of three things that you feel must change. These must be things that you have not liked for a long time. Things that really bother you. If you changed these things, there would be a huge boost in your contentment, happiness, and fulfillment. Things that you’ve tolerated for far too long. These could be your current job, the car you’re driving, the city you live in, the church you attend, your current body weight, the quality of a relationship, or anything that has been really bothering you.
Forget thinking about three… choose just one. To make this easier, pick one thing that weighs heavily on you. Something that you know is not good. Something that you spend a considerable amount of time thinking about.
Next, ask yourself why that thing is the way it is. Why in the world are you tolerating whatever that thing is? Most people give one of two answers. They say that they just haven’t taken the time to change it, or… they say that they can’t change it.
If you’re in the first group, the one who hasn’t taken the time, I can only say one thing… TAKE THE TIME! If you’re in the second group, and say that you can’t change it, then either the problem isn’t that big, or you have been going about the change all wrong.
Remember, I told you to think about the one thing that bothers you the most. If that thing is that big, then you MUST change it. Saying that you can’t is not an option. There is ALWAYS a way. If, by saying you can’t change that thing, you mean that you’ve tried and failed, then you need to try again, but by utilizing a different approach. Obviously, trying the same thing over and over, expecting a different result is not wise (that is also known as insanity!)
Start with seeing things as you would love them to be. See yourself in the ideal job. Imagine yourself in that thinner, fitter body. Visualize your current relationship full of passion and connection. See yourself living in the place you’ve always wanted to live. It helps to do this so you know what it is you really want. It also helps to motivate you to change and will inspire you to find the way to make it happen.
Next, write down action steps that you’ll need to take to get what you want. Most people fail because they think about what they want to change, but don’t do the things needed for that change. With a list of the steps that you need to take, you can begin to advance toward that change that is so desperately needed. At the top of that list needs to be something you can do immediately. Not tomorrow, next week, or sometime in the future, but right now.
I don’t mean to oversimplify things here. I know change can be hard. It often is. And this is not an exhaustive or complete list of instructions, but it will get you started. And you really, really need to get started with changing the things that are sucking the life out of you. This is your life. It’s not a dress rehearsal. And it’s short. What are you waiting for? Why are you tolerating that thing, or those things, that bother you most? You’ve waited long enough. Decide today that you will take the time… you will make an actionable list… and that you WILL take action today.
