Distractions are pesky things that get in the way at the most inconvenient times: when you’re trying to work, or tidy up or watch the latest episode of your favourite show.
But be honest…
There are times when you go looking for them.
And I’m not just talking about the times when you’re bored at the office and you want to kill half an hour before lunch. Or the times when you know you should be squeezing in some exercise, but you’re looking for a reason to skip it.
I’m talking about the times when you should be working on something you enjoy, something you want to do. Maybe you’re writing a book, or a blog or you’re learning to play guitar. It’s something you’re passionate about; it’s a part of who you are.
Yet you can’t seem to make the time for it.
You wonder why there are never enough hours in your day. But when you look hard at yourself, you know. You made a choice.
There was plenty of time over the weekend to spend writing. But instead you spent hours watching Netflix and scrolling through Twitter, diving down a clickbait rabbit-hole of politics or cat videos or whatever floats your boat.
And at the end of the night, you went to bed angry at yourself for your inability to get things done. You know you let yourself down.
How will you ever get anywhere like this?
You vow to do better next weekend.
But you never do.
So what’s stopping you? What’s getting in the way of the thing you love so much?
It’s you.
Maybe you’re afraid. You feel like you’re not good enough or you’re wasting your time on something that can never be a success. You worry that you’ll never achieve your goal, that you’re a failure. You don’t know what steps to take to get there. You don’t know what happens next.
But nobody ever does.
You don’t have to give it your all every day. It’s okay to be lazy sometimes, to have a day off from the endless striving for more and better.
But eventually you’ll have to decide: keep going and do the work, or give up.
It might take you a long time to get where you’re going, but it’s fine to take small steps, to stop sometimes and lose your way. You just have to get back on track when you’re ready.
And remember to appreciate the journey, as much as you can.
Because you will get there. Just don’t give up.