How to stop waiting for the right time
I used to be the master of "waiting for the right time." I had big dreams, grand plans, but they were always neatly tucked away, waiting for the perfect alignment of stars. I'd tell myself, "Once I have enough money, then I'll start that business." Or, "When I'm less busy, I'll finally learn to play guitar." The right time never seemed to arrive.
Years went by, filled with good intentions and unfulfilled aspirations. I was essentially living in a perpetual state of preparation, never actually doing. One day, a friend bluntly asked me, "What are you waiting for? A written invitation from destiny?" It stung, but it was the wake-up call I needed. I realized the right time wasn't going to magically appear.
I had to create it. So, I started small. My first step was identifying one dream I'd been postponing – learning Spanish. Instead of waiting for a three-month immersion program in Spain, I committed to 15 minutes of Duolingo every day. It wasn't glamorous, but it was progress. Next, I broke down my bigger goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
The dream of starting a blog felt overwhelming, so I focused on writing one blog post a week. I didn't worry about perfection, just completion. This helped me overcome the paralysis of perfectionism. I also started scheduling time for my passions, treating them like important appointments. If I wanted to learn photography, I'd block out an hour on Saturday mornings for practice.
This prevented my aspirations from being pushed aside by more "urgent" matters. Another crucial step was embracing imperfection. I had to accept that my initial attempts wouldn't be masterpieces. My first blog posts were clunky, my early guitar chords sounded awful, and my Spanish pronunciation was atrocious. But I learned from each stumble and kept moving forward. I stopped comparing myself to others.
Social media fueled my "waiting" mentality by showcasing seemingly perfect lives. I unfollowed accounts that triggered feelings of inadequacy and focused on my own journey, at my own pace. I also started seeking out accountability. I told a friend about my goals and asked them to check in on my progress. Having someone to answer to helped me stay motivated and prevented me from slipping back into procrastination. Most importantly, I learned to celebrate small victories.
Finishing a chapter of a book, completing a coding tutorial, or simply making progress on a project deserved recognition. This positive reinforcement kept me energized and motivated. Waiting for the right time is often a disguised form of fear – fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of putting ourselves out there. Overcoming this fear requires courage, self-compassion, and a willingness to start imperfectly. Now, I still have big dreams, but I'm actively pursuing them.
I may not be fluent in Spanish, a famous blogger, or a rockstar guitarist, but I'm making progress every day. The "right time" is now, and I'm embracing it, one small step at a time. Don’t get discouraged when you start, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Keep pushing through and you will get where you want to go, you can do anything if you put the work in.
**Comments:**
Name: JohnDoe
I would recommend setting realistic goals.
Start with something small and achievable, and gradually increase the difficulty as you progress. Also, find a mentor or someone who has already achieved what you're aiming for. Their guidance can be invaluable.
Name: JaneSmith
Great article! I'd add the importance of forgiving yourself for setbacks. We all have days when we don't feel like working towards our goals.
Don't beat yourself up about it. Just acknowledge it, learn from it, and get back on track the next day.
Name: PeterJones
I found it helpful to visualize success. Imagine yourself achieving your goal and how it will feel. This can be a powerful motivator, especially when you're feeling discouraged. I’d say find what works for you in particular as well, people are very different.
Name: EmilyBrown
Something that helped me was focusing on the process, not just the outcome.
Enjoy the journey of learning and growth, rather than obsessing over the final result. The outcome will be there later on just enjoy the ride.