“It makes one wonder how many times we choose to remain in our desperation rather than allow it to drive us into the abundance that awaits us.†– Erwin McManus (The Last Arrow)
I am scared to step out of my comfort zone, after all it is pretty comfy there!
I know God has so much more for me, and that I need to act. He is not going to just drop opportunities into my lap while I am sitting at home watching Netflix and scrolling social media.
So where am I settling for less?
I suffer from strategic procrastination. I demand less of myself that what I know I am capable. Why? Because I am scared of change, scared of the unknown.
But I am more scared of staying the same. I don’t want to be average. I don’t want to wait to retire until I am in my 60’s or 70’s. I don’t want to have to rely on social security and a part time job when I do retire. I don’t want to be too busy with the “9-5 shuffle†to make a difference and leave a legacy.
I know that I am made for so much more. I am made to live a life beyond my wildest dreams – but I have to step out and put forth the effort. I am going to have to leave it all on the field.
Living is not for the faint at heart. Henry David Thoreau said, “Most men live lives of quiet desperation.†How scary! I have been there, I have lived a life of quiet desperation, refusing to move forward due to fear. I don’t ever want to go back to that life.
Since I know that I require less of myself that what I am capable of, I must always keep myself in check. I have to constantly ask myself where I am holding back. Most of the time, where my strategic procrastination is concerned, I tend to have multiple important things to do and I choose to do the most comfortable things first – rather than the things that might propel me forward quickest (Because those things usually aren’t as comfortable!).
One of the things that helps me with this the most is the community of people I choose to surround myself with. A lot of these people are not with me physically, but I am accountable to them. We talk regularly on the phone, they help to remind me of what I want – and the price that is required to get there. Community is key.
Another thing that has been vital for me is reading. Specifically, books in my chosen field. For me these include spiritual growth, personal development, people skills, leadership and so on. Reading gives me new ideas, helps me implement my plan of action, keeps my goals in the forefront of my mind and helps me grow in these areas. (So long as I am implementing the things taught in the books!)
Listening to positive audios is very important to keeping myself moving forward. Audios from people in my field are great for helping me drown out the negative ‘self-talk’ as well as being a great tool to help with excitement, growth and motivation.
I never want to stop growing, I always want to be moving forward. I don’t believe there is such thing as standing still in life. I think that we are either moving forward or drifting backward.
Where are you settling for less?
What things help you to keep moving forward?
Are you accepting less than you know you are capable of?
Do you make time to read and implement?
Do you have a community of people that help keep you accountable?
Never settle, never stop growing.
XO, Jorjia