Yoda from Starwars, "do or do not, there is no try."
Doing something isn’t hard. You really can do just about anything you want to. The best part is that doing something doesn’t require that you decide on a course of action. You simply need to decide to do something, everything else follows from there. Your intention to do something, to perform and action is much more important than almost anything else. If you really do want something, focusing on that day after day is the only way to actually achieve a goal. If someone tells you to do something, you may go along for a while, you may be pressured into doing something for a while, but the only way to get lasting change is to decide.
For example, how many of you have thought about starting your own blog? Made some plans, bought a domain, but never did anything. Or if you did start, you didn’t follow through? It’s because you didn’t decide to do it, you decided to try it. As Yoda wisely said, “do or do not, there is no try.”
Ever decided to get healthy by eating right and exercising? If you go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, then you are doing it. If you go to the gym every other week, you are trying. And you will fail. Just remember that every day you do, you make progress. Every day you decide not to, or to try, you at best make no progress, but you likely move backward.
Related to those who “try,” they are the whiners, they’re the ones who make excuses. There is always a reason that they failed, and it doesn’t have anything to do with them. Granted, this is likely cognitive dissonance in action, but their failures are their own. Don’t associate with these people, because their bad habits will rub off on you. Keep your life clear of the people full of negative energy. There is a common saying that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Don’t devote 20% of yourself to a loser. Think about that. Does it seem true? The average of the 5 people you spend the most time around. When you consider this, it’s no wonder that the rich and powerful associate with other winners.
Since there is no try, there is also no perfect time. Waiting until you feel like it or until the weather is better to go for a run, waiting until the next review before quitting smoking, or waiting until you feel better before cleaning the house all are a waste of time and effort. Procrastination is the enemy of progress. The motivation must be internal; you must decide to go do whatever needs to be done. Again, devote your time to action, you’ll both have success yourself, but you’ll also raise up those around you and attract other positive, successful people. This is the law of attraction in action. It’s people knowing about the average of the people you are around.
In conclusion, don’t wait for the perfect time, there isn’t one. Don’t give excuses as to why you tried and failed, it’s because to didn’t choose to succeed. Don’t count on being told or having peer pressure exerted, simply decide and move forward.
Readers, when was the last time you decided to do something? What did you do decide to do? What about last time you just sat around wishing for something?
These are very true words Karl. I wrote a post awhile back called ‘a little less talk and a lot more action.’ People talk about doing things and dream all of the time, but how about just actually going and getting it done??
Some things I set out to do was to start a blog (done) and change my career and pursue something I’m passionate about (done). I have a bucket list that I’m working on and I need to starting do doing (sorry, had to throw that in there – couldn’t resist) some of those things. Less dreaming, more doing.
This reminds me of the overnight successes you read about. When you look behind the curtain and see the work they did, there was no “overnight” about it at all.
Wise words young jedi. There definitely is a difference between those that spend their life making excuses and those that grab the bull by the horns and create their own destiny.
The latest thing I took the initiative with was improving my mental happiness. After going through a rut of breaking up with a long term girlfriend and facing the reality of having no job, I got into a bout of depression. Instead of wallowing in that depression, I made the effort to seek out help. Now I’ve got the support of important people and I’ve made multiple lifestyle changes that ultimately affect my mental well being.
As for the last time I just sat back wishing for something, that would probably have to be wanting to eat healthier. I told myself it’s something I want to do, yet I was still eating crap. I’m gradually getting a lot better, but I’m not making the full effort that I need to.
For the past year we’ve been talking about trying to shampoo all of the carpets in the house but put it off because we knew it would be a lot of work. Yesterday (all day) we finally cleaned all of the carpets in the house. LOL
Another example (maybe better suited) last year I decided to lose weight once and for all. I gave up sugar and carbs for 7 months and lost 30 pounds. Yeah me!!
Yoda gives the best advice! I’ve said this to my 8-year-old many times. I even do the silly voice. He tends to whine about things and say that he’s no good at this, or tried that already, etc etc. It’s true, though. If you don’t go about things thinking there’s any way you CAN fail, you won’t.
I’m with you for sure. In fact, I often tick off friends and family by saying something like “I’m not asking you to try” if they say they’ll try and asking for either a “yes” or “no.” I try and do it a bit politely by saying “It’s ok if you can’t commit to doing it. If you can’t I need to find someone else who can or just do it myself. No big deal either way, but let me know.” When they inevitably say “I said I would” I come back with “you said you would try and I appreciate that but I can’t rely on that.”
Of course I’m paraphrasing, but “try” is obviously a sensitive subject for me, haha! (I also “try” to make sure to remove it from my vocabulary….)
One of the last things that I really sat here and said I want to do it was last month when I said I really want to start building more websites.
[...] of Money channels Yoda in There is No Try. Stop whining about your life and read this. Karl is going to be the next football coach at Notre [...]
Any post that uses the wisdom of yoda is a great post by me.
“don’t wait for the perfect time, there isn’t one” — This is so true, man. For goals, for financial stuff, for having kids, etc.. I would like to say (sorry yoda), but there is such a thing as try and try the absolute hardest you can, but still find failure (like jumping to the moon from your front yard, for example). Except for exceptions like that, I think mostly that Yoda (and you) are right, there is no try; you either do or don’t.
If it’s not 100% in your blood you will fall apart before you know it. As my acting teacher used to say… “How bad do you want it? Would you walk from NY to LA on hot coals?”
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Truly, a mile journey always starts with a small step. But that small step would never be realized without decision and courage. What keeps us from trying is I think that unknown fear.
It’s worthwhile to read biographies of successful people and get wisdom from their experiences.
Best regards,
Belinda