What if Today's the Day?

My job means that I spend much of my life working with people who want to change something about their reality.nPeople who would like to be fitter, healthier, leaner, lighter, happier, wealthier, less stressed, more fulfilled.... people who want to create some kind of positive change.nnI always ask them some questions:nn1. Have you tried to change before?n2. What happened last time?n3. What do you really want (and why)?n4. What are you prepared to do to create that change?n5. Why will it be different this time?nnMy experience tells me that if they can't answer these questions quickly and confidently, they probably won't create real change.nSome do, but not many.nI have worked with thousands of people who have been 'about to change'... for years.nnThey say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.nWe don't want to acknowledge it.... but that's what many of us do.nConstantly.nWe pride ourselves on the fact that we are students of life; the world is our classroom and everyday is a new lesson.nSure.nWe keep doing the same dumb things.nnIf we're 'learning' so much.... then why do we continue to make the same mistakes?nMaybe we confuse hearing (or reading) information with learning.nKnowing something only becomes real learning when we attach it to doing.... and create some forever change.nnWe have the same conversations about the same issues.nThe same arguments.nWe make the same dumb decisions.nUse the same excuses.nFall into the same traps.nnBut what if today was the day that we made a decision and took the action which would change our life, our reality and our destiny... forever?nNot for a day, week or month like we normally do... but for the rest of our life.nnWhat if today was the day that we went to a Personal Development site and instead of being entertained, amused, educated or temporarily motivated we walked away from our computer with a different attitude, a fresh focus, a new resolve and a commitment to take action and address issues in our life which should, or could have, been addressed long ago?nNo matter how comfortable, convenient, practical or popular that action was.nnWhat if today was the day we stopped making excuses forever.nStopped rationalising and justifying destructive, unproductive behaviours... (I don't have the resources, the money, the knowledge, the genetics, the talent, the support, the time)?nnWhat if today was the day that we stopped waiting for the right time?nIt never comes.n(We are the procrastination nation).nnWhat if today was the day that we realised that it's not a time issue, it's an us issue; a priorities issue, a laziness issue, an organisational issue, an attitude issue, a fear issue....nnWhat if today we started a new exercise program and eating regime and we kept it up..... and kept it up... and kept it up.nForever.n"Oh don't be stupid Craig... we know when we go on the diet... we're going to go off it at some stage."nWe consistently make decisions that we don't follow through on.nnWe fail (mostly) because we don't finish what we start.nAlways starting, rarely finishing.nIt gets uncomfortable... we chuck it in.nnWhat if today we became the person who not only started things but the person who always finished them?nWhat if we became renowned for our perseverance?nOur passion, our drive, our commitment.nnWhat if today was the day that we stopped being precious?nStopped looking for the easy option and instead looked for the most effective one?nnWhat if today was the day we became proactive and not reactive?nWhat if we made decisions and took action before we were forced to?nnWhat if today was the day that we stopped accepting and rationalising mediocrity and started striving for excellence?nWhat if today we stopped limiting ourselves?nStopped finding reasons to fail?n(Most of us don't have a clue about what's really possible for us).nWe think we do....nnWe don't.nnWhat if today was the day that we acknowledged that success is not about opportunities, situations, circumstances, other people, ability or genetic potential..... but is all about action, commitment, organisation, planning, vision, self control, attitude, effort and mental toughness?nnWhat if today was the day we chose to be that person that everyone wants to be around... that positive, happy, fun person who always seems to have time for everyone?nWhat if today we chose to be the person who is more concerned with making others feel great than ourselves look good?nnWhat if today we chose to be Mr or Mrs glass half-full?nnWhat if today was the day that we stopped beating ourselves up?n(Beating ourselves up emotionally or psychologically is pointless, destructive and really annoying for everyone around us!)nnWhat if today was the day that we realised that 'failure' is a label that we give certain experiences, situations, circumstances or events?n(One person labels an experience a 'failure' while another calls it a 'learning experience').nnWhat if today was the day we began to focus on (and do something about) the things that we can change and stopped focusing on the things we can't? n(We often spend more time, effort and emotional energy on the things we can't change than we do on the things we can...)nnWhat if today we did the things we need to do instead of the things we want to do?nnWhat if today was the day we started to give our bodies the right types and amounts of food at the right time, instead of being social, emotional, reactive, comfort eating, food-aholics?nnNot you of course, but perhaps someone you know.nnWhat if today was the day we realised that the way we see things is not necessarily how they are? (We don't see things as they are; we see things as we are.)nnWhat if today was the day we decided to listen more and talk less.nJudge less and understand more.nBe patient and tolerant.nnIf you so choose... today (this moment) can be a turning point in your life.nIt can be the start of something amazing.nn......or it can just be another day.