When dreams don't come true
5th November 2009
You stare meekly into the mirror, and sigh. Work sucks. Health is at a new low. Personal life is in the crapper. And there's just never enough time to fix it all.
It's not meant to be like this. You had plans, not that long ago. But somehow, life got in the way.
Steve Jobs said:
"When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."
When we're not meeting our own standards, our brain won't let us forget it. Frustration, self loathing and pity are our built-in response. And if they hurt, they're meant to.
Usually, if pressed, you already know the solution to most of your problems. Real rocket science, like: "to get healthy, eat well and exercise regularly" (grab a pen, you may want to write that down). Knowing isn't the problem. The hard part is doing it.
There are two things you need to do something: motivation, and time.
Motivation is easy if you feel like this. All that hateful emotional baggage? Use it. You've had enough, you won't accept it anymore. Get angry! WRITE IN CAPS IF IT HELPS GODDAMMIT.
Time can be harder. If you're always busy - legitimately or otherwise - you'll find yourself watching in horror as all your dreams pass you by.
The solution is not to prioritise your schedule. You need to schedule your priorities. List those one or two things you really need to do which are always important, but never urgent. Now block time aside for these in your diary, and treat that time like a meeting with someone else - be on time, be prepared, and keep your commitments.
We all have times in our lives when we feel we're letting ourselves down. The good thing? That feeling means you expect more from yourself. That's the first step to real change.
