“Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got.”

– Art Buchwald

Remember the most recent time you said or thought “as soon as…”? Do you remember what happened next, once you noticed that thought surfacing in your mind? Soooo many choices surfaced.

Maybe you were motivated to shorten the waiting time until whatever needs to happen, bringing your creativity center stage. Or, you used it as a stalling tactic, stopped by fear, a sense of inadequate skills or information, or hanging it on someone else’s actions. 

What would happen if you noticed “as soon as” bubbling up in your thoughts, prompting you to replace “as soon as” with “now?”

“Someday I’ll write a book, as soon as I have the time, money, clarity, knowledge, motivation, perfect skills, etc. etc. etc.” What if there were ways to start your book NOW, with whatever of the many resources you have. You could carve out time, even small bite-size pieces. It’s easier to create a book’s content with NO money or even technology than it’s ever been. Whether it’s your money or someone sponsors the production costs in exchange for publicity or an exchange of some skill you have, there are always ways to generate money. I’ve done it and I’ve seen it done.

In fact, you could hand write something if you don’t have a computer of any sort or any comfort in using a computer. You could then rent out your content in exchange for payment to use that content, which is what content licensing is all about. No money coming from you, only to you.

Maybe you’ve written one or more books. One is in process and, by the way, you’ve decided your website needs to be redone, and  your completed book needs to be launched, and you’re having company over the holiday, plus an organization wants you to be a speaker for one of their meetings.

Each and every one of these scenarios – big, small, or in between – reflects choices YOU made and can re-make rather than waiting for as soon as those and other things happen. Certain things are more difficult to renegotiate the decision you’ve made. Yet there are workarounds once you start thinking differently.

Many people I’ve known, and quite likely you’ve known some, too, operate on the basis of what they think they “SHOULD DO”. That overrides what they want to do, what they can do, and what they can work up to doing. 

The purpose of this article is to prompt you to consider what is and what can be. Yes, there are examples, suggestions, options, possibilities offered here. Those are to get you started, and intentionally are  broad, generic, and a bit vague. 

You have knowledge, skills, and uniqueness that no one else has and that lots of people want. Create opportunities for yourself to take an inward journey, a journey of discovery, no matter how many times or to what depth you’ve already done that in your life. There’s still more for you to discover about yourself. Educational and entertainment opportunities are all around you. There are people eager to share their experience and perspective with you, to help you in whatever ways they can that you’ll allow. 

Do that now, today, no matter how often “as soon as” pops into your life. You owe it to yourself and to those who are so eager to experience you – NOW!

© Paulette Ensign 2024