I write about this topic often. Most all of us know of things we can do to improve our health. We know we need to eat better. We know we should exercise/stretch more. We know we shouldn’t get so caught up with stress and worry and fear and doubt and that we should take the time to meditate/ pray/ think of what we are appreciative of…

Our excuse…WHEN DO I HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT!?!?!?

I must say, we all make the time to do what we value most. And MOST of the time we’re a little hard on ourselves for not having the perfect body, the perfect relationship, the dream job, the best vacations, the money we need in our bank account to fly our helicopter around on a Sunday afternoon.

What I’m getting at, as you may know, it’s NOT really about the time. It’s about what we VALUE most. We tend to set unrealistic expectations on how our lives should be without considering the work it takes to get there.

One of my favorite quotes came from a fortune cookie: “Complacency is the enemy of success.”

That one hit me hard. All I can do is share with you a personal life example of how this all worked for me.

I had a goal to write a book. That goal was written down in about 2008. I figured I’d have it complete by December 21, 2012. That date came and went. And so did many others. I NEVER took any action steps toward it. Well, I guess I did scribble some notes here and there in a scattering of notebooks. But one thing did work in my advantage. It was always in the back of my mind. And the other thing working for me…I made a point to hang around people, and go to seminars where many in attendance had achieved that goal, they had their own books that inspired me not to give up.

In July 2016 I met a man who specialized in helping others write, publish and promote a book. I signed up to coach with him. Halfway through my coaching, no book. My excuse…I am BUSY, I am a Dad that likes to be involved with his kids, a business owner, I need time to check out and go for a hike, a bike ride, if this book thing means I can’t maintain a normal lifestyle, then maybe this isn’t for me!

BUT I HAD THIS SMALL LITTLE VOICE INSIDE THAT WOULDN’T GO AWAY. IT WAS PUSHING ME. I REALIZED IF I HUSHED IT AND SQUISHED IT THEN I WOULD BE FILLED WITH REGRET AS MISSING AN OPPORTUNE TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I ALREADY INVESTED IN COACHING TO HELP ME DO THIS NOW.

I made the decision: I am not willing to adjust my lifestyle, how am I going to fit this in my busy schedule? At the same time, I realized I was getting about 8 hours of sleep per night and actually woke up feeling tired. When I would get 6.5 hours/sleep per night, I would wake up energized!?

BOOM. I would go to bed at 10 pm and get up at 4:30 am. I did it. I bumped the book up as a VALUE I wanted to contribute to society. I committed to the small voice, the whisper, the gentle nudge from within that wouldn’t go away. You know what’s crazy? I LOVED WAKING UP AT 4:30 AM TO WRITE. It was honestly a spiritual experience for me. Words flowed, I would buzz with energy and excitement. Was I tired at the end of the day? Yes, but it was all worth it. I got to the point where my eyes would pop open just before my alarm at 4:30 am. That was my sign that I was ON PURPOSE.

Long story short. Book hit #1 bestseller on Amazon in US and Japan and Top 10 in 6 other countries.

My hope for you: LISTEN TO THE SMALL VOICE WITHIN AND TRUST THAT YOU WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE TIME. GO WITH IT, EVEN IF IT HAPPENS TO BE 4:30 AM. You will be okay and your life will get better. YOU GOT THIS!