Rather than living out their dreams, many people wait and wait and wait. What are they waiting for? Sometimes they are waiting for clarity on what direction to go in, other times they are waiting until they get really, really good at whatever it is they want to do, other times they are waiting for a sign that it's the right time to move on, and others are waiting for a guarantee that what they do will not be rejected or fail? These are just a few of the thought processes people have which keep them from moving forward. Stop and think for a minute about what thoughts usually stop you.

Often these thoughts are tied in with the need to do things right or perfectly or with the need to know what to expect. This is the nemesis of perfection. Simply put, if we wait for everything to line up perfectly before taking some kind of action, we will be waiting forever.

I had to be pushed by my coach to lead my first workshop 4 years ago. I kept saying, "I wasn't ready". What I meant was, "it wasn't perfect, yet." What I have since learned is perfection and refinement come/ in the doing. That is where the real learning takes place. I led my first personal mission statement workshop for a group of acquaintances at no charge. The workshop wasn't great -- but it wasn't terrible either. I got incredibly helpful feedback from the participants. From there I was able to refine it and teach it in the adult education programs of the local colleges. The feedback I got from the participants is not anything I could have learned on my own. The learning was in the doing.

The fear of failure is tied in with the nemesis of perfection; i.e. if I don't do it right or make the right choice, then I fail. Failure does not have to be devastating. Rather it can be viewed as an opportunity to learn. Everyone fails sometimes. The people who have the most successes in life also generally have had the most failures. That is because they keep coming back and try again and again.

Where are you willing to take a chance this week? Here are some possibilities to choose from or create you own.

„h Ask for something you want.
„h Ask for help in getting clarity on what you want.
„h Do something you've never done before.
„h Ask someone you've been admiring out on a date.
„h Share your creative work with someone whose opinion you respect.
„h Ask a professional in the field for feedback on your work.
„h Submit your idea, work, talent to someone who has the ability to hire you or purchase something from you.
„h Ask someone you would like to be friends with to go to lunch or dinner.

What are you waiting for?

Author's Bio: 

Stacey Mayo, founder of the Center for Balanced Living, is a a career and personal coach. Living out her passions, she has assisted hundreds of others to do the same with amazing results!



You can contact her at 770-643-0886 or visit the website at http://www.balancedliving.com