You’ve been slacking, putting things on hold that are high priority, and following your passion just seems like a hopeless dream. I was in this situation a few years ago: I was a failing college student with no passions, goals, or any idea of where I was heading. That’s when I decided to adopt an “All Or Nothing” attitude. It’s as simple as this:
Why this mindset?
Be honest with yourself: Why have you been putting off your goals? Why have you put off writing that book, building that business, or spending more time with your family? If you’re beating yourself up because you failed to do it last year (and the year before that), then are you ready to beat yourself up again at the end of this year? When my back was against the wall, I knew it was time to act. No more delaying. No more procrastinating. No more lying to myself that things would work out in some magical way. It may be extreme to tell yourself that you might die if you don’t do this final act, but if it motivates you like it did for me…then so be it. Because honestly, how much further down can you go before hitting rock bottom? How much more do you want to wind up shooting yourself in the foot before you actually realize that taking your goals a step at a time is the sensible — if not only — method?
All or nothing
This is it, baby. A few things I told myself that motivated me to keep moving my feet forward:
There are people — friends and family — that want me to do well. They want to see me live a fruitful life. Why continue to disappoint them? Why continue to disappoint yourself? You’re better than this… Patience. Take it a step at a time. This whole time you’ve been procrastinating; you haven’t been putting any pieces together — just staring at them. Now is the time to slowly build your way up, even if it means starting at the bottom — because there is nothing wrong with starting at the bottom. Take it day by day. Or as famous writer Anne Lamont says, “Bird by bird.” Focus on the relevant steps towards building your dream. If building your business requires you to brainstorm and really break down what it is you’re offering to your customers, then you must do that until it’s right. If becoming fit, healthy, and lean requires daily exercise and healthy eating habits, then stick to that. Don’t allow distractions or shortcuts divert your focus: there is no such thing as quick-and-easy success. Last but not least, this is all or nothing. Tell yourself: If I don’t do this, then what will I do? Suffer? Always be frustrated and angry? Tell myself on New Years that this year I’ll be sure to accomplish my tasks? (Let’s be real…)
It starts with your positive attitude
Adopting this positive attitude can change your life for the better. It can give you that jumpstart that you’ve been desperately searching for. It can reinvigorate you, unleashing your potential to propel you forward in your life. Instead of forcing yourself to commit to productive acts, why not first adopt a productive attitude so the rest can follow through? This is about challenging yourself. This is about the all-or-nothing attitude. Because at the end of the day, it really does come down to all or nothing. You have two choices:
Continue living the life where you procrastinate, daydream, and tell yourself that things will be alright. Or…develop this mindset, exercise it, and see yourself grow into the person that you envisioned to be.
Also, when walking this path, I must warn that at times you will be frustrated, just like anyone else who is pursuing their dreams. The point is to not allow your frustrations, resentment, or anger dictate your next move. They say patience is a virtue — and at this point, you have to be willing to be believe that. What other choice do you have? Adopting this positive attitude can be the start of your new life. The life where you actually meet your goals, stay productive, and learn more about yourself. This all-or-nothing attitude can be your game-changer, the butt-kicking you’ve needed to get moving, the jumpstart that will change the course of your life as long as you commit to it. Stop waiting for something to happen and go make something happen — consistently tell yourself: Not only do your friends and family need you to pursue your dreams: the world needs it. We don’t need you sitting around daydreaming, not doing what it requires to be great. We don’t need anymore frustrated people who procrastinate and complain — we have enough of that. We need people that have the positive attitude that allows them to live their life to their desire, and to inspire others to do the same. We need more people living their passions, building their dreams, and adopting a mentality that motivates them to keep moving forward. How will you adopt this positive attitude? What other ways have you found productive to get started on your goals and dreams? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. (Photo credit: All In via Shutterstock)
