I wish I could get in shape. I wish I could take a vacation. I wish I could be happier. I wish I had time to read more. I wish I could eat healthier. I wish, I wish, I wish.
We hear this often, don’t we?
I’m guilty of this too.
I wish I had more time…but to do what? If you have 100 priorities to get done in 1 week, sure, you may need more time (unless you can hire some good minions to do all the things you want). But realistically, you have the time to accomplish the priorities you set, or the activities you want to accomplish. Your issues may be with conflicting priorities and in the belief that they are all the same weight of importance, rather than time itself. In the last few months, I’ve consciously practiced setting my main priorities for the week, and not let other ones in if I can’t complete my main ones. To date, I’m at a 90% success completion rate for those priorities. And that’s just one example for the “I wish I had more time” argument.
“I Will” Can Be More Powerful Than “I Wish”
But the “I wish” versus “I will” mindset is key. And some things may always be a wish, and that’s ok (I wish I could be the General Manager of the New Jersey Devils, or the greatest sommelier the world has ever known). But honestly, that’s more of a big dream, rather than a realistic goal. And I have many goals I want to achieve way before those.
But do this for me. The next time you catch yourself saying you wish you could get in shape…stop, and go straight to the gym, or for a quick jog outside, or watch a yoga video. If getting in shape is a main priority for you, then what’s stopping you? Too much work? Alter your schedule. Kids get up early? Then get a workout in before they wake up, or after they go to bed. Just simply don’t have the energy for it? Then maybe you need to change your diet.
Get Some Quick Wins and Build Momentum
If you’re stuck in a rut, and it seems like life’s getting the best of you, get some quick wins under your belt. Set 1 or 2 things you want to accomplish this week. Could be simple as don’t eat any fast food, or a bigger goal like book that trip to San Diego you’ve been putting off for years.
So let’s make a deal: the next time you catch yourself saying I wish, change that into I will, and set a date for accomplishing that new priority of yours. You’ll be thankful you did.
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