“Woulda, Shoulda and Coulda walk into a bar…”
– A mentor of mine, any time someone used some version of “I wish I would have…”
“If only I were younger,” we say, “I would start my own…”
“If only I were better rested,” we say, “I would exercise more…”
“If only I were wealthier,” we say, “I would invest more…”
“If only I were better at expressing myself,” we say, “I would tell her…”
“If only I were skinnier,” we say, “I’d hike the…”
Here’s the deal. Most of our “if only’s” are in our control. They’re excuses. My mentor had a line for those, too. He said, “Excuses are like…” oh, never mind, you’ve probably heard that one.
Let’s attack our “If only’s” with “I will‘s,” and let’s leave no window of time between them and the start.
If we’re alive, our dreams, by and large, are still alive, too. If we’re in need of rest, the couch or bedroom are only a few feet away (and rest can come from prayer, meditation, reflection, journaling, too). If we’re in need of wealth, there’s one spending decision we’re about to make that we can choose not to make. If we want to express ourselves better, we can start by simply expressing ourselves — and then refine the skill as we grow. (I bet we’re better at it than we think we are!) If we need to shave a few pounds off, they sell veggies and lean protein in the same grocery store that they sell Snickers and Cheesy-Poofs.
If only I’d stop if-only-ing, I’d already be…
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