Now is Now. How to Seize the Moment?

We have all been there at some time. We come up with a brilliant plan for reaching a great goal, or we finally decide to set about doing some long outstanding job. Yes, we say to ourselves, leaping out of the chair, I am going to do that right now! But beware, for it is at this point when that initial enthusiasm can start to waver, a little bit of fear sets in, we hesitate a little, and to avoid that moment of truth we get involved in trivial things such as shuffling bits of paper about, or sharpening pencils.

Worse still, we may sneak off first to make a cup of coffee and flop down in front of the TV to watch that interesting movie. In fact, it now seems that we will do anything rather than make a start on the job in hand. Before you succumb to the lure of the comfort zone, and open up another six-pack, just consider this – the pain of starting now will be nothing compared to the pain you will suffer if you sit on the sideline and watch others pass you by on the road to riches.

So to avoid blowing apart all your grand intentions here are five useful tools that can be used to really get started, and well on the way to being a winner.

POSITIVE THINKING
As with everything else in life if you want a successful outcome then you must approach the task in a positive frame of mind. Anything less than this, or if a hint of negativity creeps in, then it will make your job infinitely more difficult, or even end in failure. Negative thinking usually results in hold-ups and delays, so be careful, because it is at this crucial time when someone else will leap in and seize the moment instead, beating you to the post. However, life is not a contest where there has to be winners and losers. We are, after all, here to help each other, and by seizing the moment of opportunity and powering through to success, you will not only be bringing the good things into your own life, you will be helping many others along the way. So, each day should begin with a positive mental attitude, reinforcing this positive mindset as you wash, dress, and prepare for the day ahead. By doing this you will be able to handle the niggling problems and daily mishaps in a calm and optimistic frame of mind.

AWAY WITH THOSE EXCUSES
You have to admit that finding an excuse for putting things off is very easy, especially when you can convince yourself that there are too many obstacles. You name it, and there is a real good excuse proving that there is no possible way that you can follow through. It is tempting here to adopt the role of the ‘victim’, with flabby explanations such as ‘everything is against me’, ‘I haven’t got the education’, ‘I haven’t got the money’ or ‘I haven’t got the time.’ Or you may say that you will do the job when conditions are just right, fooling yourself (but not others) into believing that you will be better equipped to deal with it later. The fact is by saying it will be done later means that it will most probably never get done at all. When you falter and make pathetic excuses for not taking positive action you are condemning yourself to a life of frustration, at the bottom of the heap. So, put all these obstacles behind you for they have no place in your future, and tell yourself that from this point on nothing is going to stand in your way.

NO REGRETS NOW
Surely every one of us has, at some time in our life, done something, or embarked on some venture that came to grief, which later we have regretted, and have wished that we had not become involved in the first place. How often have you said ‘I wish I had done that differently’ or ‘I wish I had not said that’, or ‘I wish I had not started that.’ Doubting, regretting, and complaining will only bog you down, and sap the vital energy you will need on your journey to success. Regrets gnaw away at your dreams and aspirations, and if allowed to continue contaminating your mind, will rob you of any hope of achievement. Regret is as destructive as the rust that corrodes, and ultimately destroys the most hardened steel. Many famous people in the past have made colossal mistakes, where they afterwards could have crept away into some dark corner to lick their wounds and hide from public ridicule or scorn. But they courageously admitted that they were wrong in their estimation, and rather than give up have used that error of judgement as a learning process, and pressed on for the ultimate benefit of themselves and others.

THIS MOMENT IS YOURS
Remember – you, and you alone must decide to act. To wait for someone else to decide for you, or push you into action, is to surrender your own power of choice. This moment is your golden opportunity to break away from the limitations of the past, and to live and act with a positive resolve. You must stop fretting about what has happened in the past, the opportunities you have let slip by, or the hurt that others may have inflicted on you, for there is nothing you can do now to undo what has already happened. But you do have the power, at this very moment, to change your life for the better. Think of it like this. Today, this magic moment, could be the time when you either continue to live in obscurity, in the shadow of past failures and disappointments, or decide to push forward towards the success and riches that can be yours. Don’t settle for anything less, decide right now, this instant, to take action and give it all you’ve got! Action is the dynamic of worthwhile achievement, for it gives power to your goals, and sets you firmly on the path to living your dreams.

SO DO IT NOW!
It is one of the weaknesses of human nature to put something off that really should have been done long ago. As we have seen, there are numerous cop-outs that we can come up with, ideally suited for any occasion, just waiting there for us to use in order to avoid action. After all, despite all our preparations we can never be absolutely certain that we are not making a mistake. So, have faith in yourself, and in your decision, and truly believe that you are taking the right step. Keep reminding yourself that you are unique, and that there is nobody else in the world quite like you, with all the knowledge and skills that you have in your armory. If your goals are realistic, if they make you feel good, and they serve others as well, then go after them with every ounce of determination that you possess. Without that great desire to succeed those goals will never be attained. This is the time to decide. Do you really want to act now, or are you prepared to live a life of social and material poverty. You are the only one who can make that decision. If success is what you want, then do everything in your power to make that success and happiness a reality for yourself and for those around you.
If you say yes, then don’t hesitate; the time to start is RIGHT NOW!