How Bad Do You Want It! ~Part the First~
How badly do you want it?
Really, how bad?
By “it” I mean that dream you keep talking about. That goal you keep putting off or never have enough time to pursue. That special “it” you’ve waited forever to sink your teeth into, taking a firm bite out of the best this life could offer you. How badly to you want to flying scissors kick it to the ground, hogtie it with rope you braided from your hopes & visions about your wanna-be life, and make it your bitch?
Really, how bad?
Bad enough to give up a little TV? Or your favorite video game? Or time with your friends? How badly do you want this thing you say you want? This pie-in-the-sky pipedream you know you’ll never do anything about, but you swear that you’ll get to it soon…. Tomorrow…. Someday.
Nike has a saying:
“Yesterday you said tomorrow.”
The problem is, as we all know, tomorrow never comes. All you ever have is today. Today to pay your bills. Today to raise your kids. Today to take that vacation. Today to become a writer, an artist, a _(fill in the blank)_. Today to Become. They say Time is a thief. But, so is apathy. And, so is complacency. If you do not stoke that fire burning in your belly, feed that desire yearning to create your destiny, then someday—maybe even tomorrow—you will suffer the “joy” of regret at never having accomplished, hell, maybe never even having attempted to Do, Be, Have that “It” you’ve always wanted.
Sucks, doesn’t it?
Believe me when I tell you that you are not alone. Nope, not by a longshot. I, too, suffer from the same affliction you do. That’s right, sometimes life is so good enough that I don’t feel the need to push it further. I mean, why would I? I am comfortable right where I’m at. I do have it pretty good after all. Why would I push to go anywhere that might take me away from here? Especially when it means I will have to cross over into that dark and foreboding place known as Outside My Comfort Zone. Especially when it means I might have to work to get where I want to go and, most likely, work very hard at this thing I’m just a-playin’ with now.
Yuck!
Why? Because what lies beyond this velvet trap is everything I say I want out of life. Unless I’m just fooling myself, adventure and glory are there…. As well as self-respect and a deep sense of accomplishment. Not altruistic enough for you? How about the ability to better help others and teach them to help themselves? Will that satisfy your yearning to make a difference in this world? Whatever your personal “It” is, you’re going to have to do more than hope and dream, plot and plan to achieve it.
Because, despite expressions to the contrary, “It” doesn’t just happen.
So, what are you going to do about it? What, in fact can you do about it? You still only have the same amount of time you were stuck with at the beginning of this blarticle. Less, actually. Is there anything you can do to put yourself back on the fast track to achieving your dream?
Yes, of course there is.
First you have to realize that, not only can you do something, but it’s your responsibility.
What!?
You heard me. Ultimately, it all falls on you—the success, the failure, the mediocrity of being stuck somewhere in the middle—that’s all on you, baby. But, don’t worry; that’s the good news.
Again…what!?
No foolin’—this is the good part. The fact that you are the person responsible for your situation in this life is a good thing. In fact, it’s probably the best thing you’ve read thus far.
I know it’s the most important.
Once you take full responsibility for everything that’s going on, you begin to realize that you can effect a change. You can make a difference in your own life. Wouldn’t you rather have it that way, than to have to sit around and wait for some knight in shining armor to come to your rescue? Well, guess what. You’re your own knight in shining armor. It’s up to you to come and save the day.
Daunting, huh? Don’t worry; it gets better.
What does all this have to do with “how bad do you want it!?” Everything. It is up to you to motivate yourself beyond the dreaming stage. You are the person who has to create goals, set achievable baby steps, begin moving forward and adjust as you go. “How bad do you want it!?” means just that. How much more than mere lip service are you willing to give in order to Be, Do, Have this “It” you say you want?
Time is the Dream Killer.
If you think you don’t have enough time to get everything you’d like to accomplish off the backburner and onto your plate, you’re absolutely right!
What!?
You heard me…you are correct-o-mundo. There will never be enough time for you to write that book, get that doctorate, learn to play the guitar, pursue that singing career, become a big brother, see the world. Never, never, never…and I mean NEVER!
Then, why bother?
Because it can be done, but you have to do it. You have to create the necessary space in your life for those things you want to accomplish (or, at least, say you want to accomplish). You’re going to have to shift things around. You might even (not might, really—probably) have to get up early/stay up late in order to move forward, step by step, toward your goals. There will be sacrifices. Those self-same sacrifices I mentioned earlier in the blarticle. This, specifically, is what “how bad do you want it!?” is referring to. Do you want it more that your TV, your video games, your nights out with friends? Are you worthy of these dreams you are laying claim to? If not, then perhaps they’re not worthy of you.
Something to think about, isn’t it?
R. Mordant Mahon
R. Mordant Mahon is a Podcast Awards nominated co-host of the comedic motivational talk show, Success Freaks. A serial vlogger & author whose mission statement is “help others be awesome,” Mordant spreads the social media “gospel” while daring others to dance outside their comfort zone. With over 3500 live comedy performances across North America, his passion for live broadcasting offers a visionary point of view at what social media could be.
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