SOMEDAY IS AN ILLUSION

My wife, Kellen, recently taught me a powerful lesson about goals. She said what we’re really after, what hides behind our lofty goals and ambitions– happiness, love, contentment, etc– is already in our lives. And if we can’t find it here, now, then we won’t find it when we achieve our goals, either.

As people, we are obsessed with the idea that someday, we will be happier, healthier, or more generous. Someday, we will travel more, spend more time with our loved ones, or even pursue our dreams.

Of course there’s a reason we love someday. Someday is comforting because it gives us hope. It buys us time. And most importantly, it lets us off the hook.

However, the idea that more money will make us happier, for example, is only true if we already find ways to be happy with the life that we have.

Saying that we will start saving or give to charity once we have more money doesn’t take into consideration that saving is first and foremost a habit or that it’s a lot easier to give 5% of $100 than it is for $100,000.

Even our dreams usually don’t have a reason to be delayed. We procrastinate and delay the start out of fear, which we often disguise as preparation.

A few years ago, I finally called myself out. I decided that if it was true that once I became rich I would leave bigger tips and give to charity, then I could already start today. If one day I wanted to become a published author, I could start writing more and publishing my thoughts. And most recently, I realized that if someday I wanted to start a company, nothing was really preventing me from starting one.

I invite you to make an inventory of all the things in your life you plan to do, have or start someday. Ask yourself if you can already find it here or if you can start now. What you find out will surprise you.

Someday is an illusion because the things that we hope for in the future can already be ours today, if we look for them, make the changes we seek or take the first step.