Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is when is it too late to pursue your dreams? When is it too late to become the person you were meant to be? After a lot of debate I think I’ve finally come up with the answer. It’s never too late, until you think it is.
Although the clock’s always ticking, if you realize it’s not too late you’ve still got a chance of making something out of yourself. It doesn’t matter how lost or depressed you may be. The problem is once most people fall far enough off the path they’re meant to travel, they stop believing change is possible.
You need to have a vision. Who you are today doesn’t need to be who you are tomorrow. The past does not equal the future. Even if you’re a loser now, you need to realize it’s not too late for you to become a champion.
Of course, just having a vision isn’t enough. A vision without action is merely a fantasy. Once you plan your work you need to work your plan. The problem is if you’re coming from a low place you likely have a number of self-sabotaging habits.
If you have a dream of running a marathon yet you’re fifty pounds overweight and eating donuts for breakfast every morning you’ve got work to do. You need to make healthier food choices and begin exercising regularly. Easier said than done right?
Here’s the trick. The reason most people fail in making these changes is because they don’t understand the difference between would and could. They think they could begin eating healthier or exercising at any moment, but they can’t.
They don’t have the track record. After a lifetime of laziness and bad habits building up you can’t just decide to instantly fix your life and become disciplined and hardworking 100% of the time. Life just doesn’t work like that.
You need to start small. The smaller the better. If you’re trying to make running a habit just run to your mailbox the first day. Even the laziest of people should be able to accomplish that. The second day run to your closest neighbors mailbox.
With each passing day run one mailbox further. After a few months you’ll be running a respectable distance and have cemented running as a habit. More importantly, you’ll have done it in a sustainable way, and built self discipline in the process.
Of course, most people will continue to just go for it instead of starting small and as a result they’ll spend the rest of their lives frustratingly starting and stopping their habits. But you’re not like most people are you? 🙂
Remember, the turtle finished the race before the rabbit. Running fast is great, but it doesn’t matter how fast you are if you’re running in circles. Don’t worry about someone being quicker than you out of the gate. Just focus on making consistent, sustainable progress on your goals.
To answer your original question, it’s almost never too late to be who you’re meant be. If you’ve given up it is (unless something changes your mind), but as long as you believe change is possible it will be regardless of your circumstances.
Even if you lots of bad habits or are starting from a dark place there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to accomplish your goals. Also remember, that those who start with the worst circumstances can use their pain as leverage and often become the most happy, successful people of all.
Once you’ve got your vision, once you’ve planned your work, remember to start small and work your plan. If you can commit to that there’s nothing you can’t do.
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