Bite Size Insights: There Is No Perfect Moment To Start
Don’t wait for the perfect moment to take action. You might have good intentions to lose weight, start a business, write a book, or find meaningful work. You daydream about the possibility of grabbing onto that feeling of accomplishment, but you fear taking the steps. Maybe you're thinking, what if I fail? How do I know what to do? What if I’m not good enough?
It's possible that you dabble in your selected activity, though you don’t commit because you like to keep your options open. It’s easier to appear busy than to do real work.
Realize that you can do more.
The key is to start. Start today. Start right now. Stop putting it off any longer. There is no better time to begin. Tomorrow won’t be better. Monday won’t bring new opportunities. Today is all you have. This moment is all that exists. Don’t worry about who you have been. Don’t stress about the unknown. Seize the moment in front of you. Take action.
Quotes About Starting
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, on living the strenuous life:
“Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on the uniqueness of our place and the importance of our task:
“Lift where you stand.”
William Mather Lewis, President of George Washington University (1923 to 1927), on not waiting to begin:
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”
Ernest Hemingway, celebrated novelist, on not worrying about something being perfect on the first try.
"The first draft of anything is shit."
Lemony Snicket, pen name of best-selling author Daniel Handler, on the consequences of waiting:
“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”
Seneca, ancient Roman Stoic philosopher and advisor to the Roman Emperor Nero, on the fool waiting to live:
“The fool, with all his other faults, has this also, he is always getting ready to live.”
Marcus Aurelius, ancient Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, on not letting the moment you have pass you by:
“Time is a river, a violent current of events, glimpsed once and already carried past us, and another follows and is gone.”
Amy Poehler, accomplished comedian and actress, on how great people get our of their comfort zones and do things before they're ready:
“Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you’re afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that—that’s what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that’s really special, and if you’re not good, who cares? You tried something. Now you know something about yourself.”
Amelia Earhart, first female aviator to fly solo across the atlantic ocean, on not overthinking:
“The most effective way to do it is to do it.”
Pablo Picasso, lauded artist, on the effort of inspiration:
“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”
5 Minute Challenge: Take one of these quotes that resonates with you. Right it on an index card, sticky note, or copy and paste it to your device. Keep it somewhere easily accessible. Memorize it. Recall it when you need the motivation to start again.
Whatever you do — don’t let this moment pass you by.
Recommended Reading:
The Strenuous Life: Essays and Addresses by Theodore Roosevelt
Lift Where You Stand by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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