[shareable cite=”“Waiting on Tomorrow,” Song by Mandisa, Songwriters: Benjamin Glover, Jeffrey Thomas Pardo”]
“Maybe tomorrow I’ll start over
Maybe tomorrow I will finally change my ways
Said the same thing yesterday
Don’t know why I’m so afraid”[/shareable]

I hear this a lot!  From people I coach, and if I’m truly honest, from myself as well.  Not all the time.  Some moments are longer than others.  It’s the first step to growth, but if tomorrow remains our mindset for today for very long, it eventually becomes someday, which slowly drifts into never.

We know what’s waiting for us on the other side of change, but we often lack the faith to take the first step.  It’s more comfortable to stay on the sidelines than to venture into the game that is being played before us.  We become a spectator vs. an active, engaged participant.  Setbacks, apathy, doubt, lack of confidence, the memory of past performances where we failed, and the uncertainty of controlling the outcome drive us back to a place we were never meant to be.  As Fulton Oursler said, “Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.”

[shareable cite=”Fulton Oursler”]“Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.”[/shareable]

Not only can we get caught up in the traps of tomorrow, but we can be enthralled with the idea of someday or soon. We want to to make a change someday. We will accomplish our goals soon. You have to realize that there is a dramatic difference between someday, soon, and, now. Someday and soon are not days of the week nor do they reference a time period that even resembles a concrete reference point on your schedule that is actionable. Someday and soon also often lead to regret because we miss the moment to:

• Tell people how much we appreciate them while they are alive.
• Seize the opportunity before us.
• Make a positive impact in a person’s life through our leadership platform.
• Fully embrace our roles at home to love our families unconditionally.

Now, however, brings everything into focus for you to take the next step to make your dreams a reality. Now positions you to proactively advance your action plan to support your goals, and it challenges you to move forward versus staying relaxed and satisfied in your current position. Finally, Now keeps you accountable while someday and soon let you off the hook over and over again until you find yourself in a cycle of discontent.

Later in the chorus of this Mandisa song, she exclaims:

“I can’t live my whole life wasting

All the grace that I know You’ve given

‘Cause You made me for so much more than

Sitting on the sidelines

I don’t wanna look back and wonder

If good enough could have been better

Every day’s a day that’s borrowed

So why am I waiting for tomorrow?

Why am I waiting for tomorrow?”

Don’t wait on tomorrow or someday! Here are 3 steps you can take to move past someday or tomorrow and make progress on today:

• Evaluate your goals and make them SMART (Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Realistic-Time bound) goals
• Ask yourself on a daily basis: What can I do today to take the next step toward my goals?
• Enlist an accountability partner who will encourage, challenge, and keep you accountable to the goals and action steps you have committed to.

My challenge and encouragement to you is to make today count.  You don’t want to look back at the opportunity before you and wonder if it was good enough.  Whether you are a parent, spouse, business leader, athlete, student, or coach, strive to make the most of your moments by maximizing your potential and focusing on the goal ahead of you.  Don’t let the distractions of today rob you of the joy of making your life count for what matters most. In other words:

Why are you waiting on tomorrow?