#123 Never again

Fulfillment doesn’t come from closing the gap between wanting and having.

It comes from closing the gap between wanting and doing.

Want to write a book? Then write every day – even if you don’t have the book yet.

Want to start a successful business? Then start the business – even if you’re not successful yet.

Want to run a marathon? Then run every day – even if you haven’t run a marathon yet.

After all, you might never close the gap between wanting and having.

But the gap between wanting and doing, you can close right this very moment.

On the days when I feel like everything I write is bad, I choose to be a writer.

On the days when I feel like the most inspired writer, I choose to be a writer.

On the days when I need to skip a day because life gets in the way, I choose to be a writer.

On the days when I don’t feel like a writer, I choose to be a writer.

And especially on the days when I don’t write, I choose to be a writer by trusting that soon enough, I’ll write again.

I choose to be a writer, not through pressuring myself into hardliner habits but through my daily commitment to the general direction I want my life to take.

Focus on making the majority of your actions and decisions align with who you want to be.

When you do that, you’ll always bounce back.

“Is this really important right now?” I ask myself, as another distraction passes through my head.

I imagine an old wise man, disturbed from his task at hand, looking up.

“No? Can you come back later then, at a more appropriate time? Thank you very much.”

Back to work he goes.

“Is this really a life-threatening event?” I ask myself, as another anxiety-inducing thought intrudes my mind.

I imagine the same old wise man, fending off a harassing distraction.

“No? Can you come back with a message more appropriate to the severity of the event? Thank you very much.”

On with life he goes.

If only it were that easy, my friend.

The distracted, anxious, worried mind tends to fight back. I’m taking the liberty to assume you’ve also noticed that at some point in your life.

Nevertheless, I believe we can, nay, we must fight back.

Not that I’m advocating suppression.

Excited, worried, sanguine, anxious, passionate, defeated: let them have their moment of attention – at the appropriate time.

Maybe it’s all about the art of making all the selves get along?

I imagine the old wise man, who has mastered that art.

I know I’m not that old wise man yet.

But I could be, if I make it a point to practice every day.

And so could you, if you make it a point to practice every day.

If that’s something that’s important to you, of course. That’s for you to decide, in your personal situation and in your personal life.