Please take this one question / one click survey about this article to help me tailor
this newsletter to what you really want to know!
Have you ever come down with a case of Assoonasitis? You look at a dream and say, “I’ll do that as soon as I…” As soon as I feel more ready. As soon as I have enough money. As soon as I’ve raised my kids. As soon as I’m not so busy. As soon as I’m done with ____.”
Left untreated, Assoonasitis can be a dream-killer. But it doesn’t have to be lethal. Here are six simple ways to cure it.
Find your focus
The first step in treating Assoonasitis is to be really clear about the goal. Here are three questions to ask about the dream that Assoonasitis is blocking.
What is it?
This may seem like a no-brainer, but humor me here. The more specific you can be about what you want, the more potential you have to be able to take solid steps in that direction.
Do you really want it?
Stop and ask yourself, “Do I really want this?” Just for the moment, let go of any practicalities and focus on the dream itself. If you don’t get a clear yes, let it go. Chalk it up to a passing fantasy. But if you realize that you really do want it, move on to the next question.
Why do you want it?
Another way of asking this is, “What’s in it for me?” The more you can understand about the benefit of the dream – whether it’s the energy you would feel, or the difference you would make, or even the money it would generate – the more fuel you have available to drive your efforts and overcome your Assoonasitis.
Do a stall check
Assoonasitis can be a great way to stall on taking any kind of meaningful action. It lets you say, “Yes, I am going to do this, but not yet.” The trouble with that is when that not yet becomes a rolling buffer zone. Taking action always stays out in the future, when the time is right.
If you find yourself saying, “I’ll do it as soon as I ____,” ask yourself if you really will, or if it’s simply a stall tactic. Be honest. If it’s a truly valid point, great. Set a goal to start taking steps once you reach that point. Better yet, tell someone your plans so you are externally accountable.
If it’s a stall tactic, keep reading.
Ask, “How could I?”
So many people look at their dreams and succumb to a knee-jerk obstacle-focused response. They come up with a litany of reasons why it can’t happen, why they aren’t the kind of person who can make it happen, and why it’s not realistic.
Some of those obstacles really are insurmountable, true. But by far the majority of the insurmountability people encounter comes because they keep their focus on what’s in the way, rather than how they could make it happen.
Here’s a simple exercise to start shifting any obstacle-driven thinking you might encounter. For the next week, any time your mind comes up with a reason why what you want to do can’t happen, use it as a cue to start brainstorming ways that it could happen. Start developing a how-could-I habit.
Take action
The surest way to reduce or even eliminate the fears and doubts behind Assoonasitis is to simply start taking action. As you take steps, you start to see results, and doors open up that would never occurred to you.
Assoonasitis thrives in stasis. The less action you take, the stronger its grip on you. The more action you take, the easier it is to break free.
Take it in stages
Don’t get caught in the trap of thinking you have to make it all happen last week. Based on your current reality, it may truly be impossible to get where you want to go in the near-term. But many things that are impossible in the short-term are possible with a longer time horizon.
Instead of trying to flip the switch, take it in stages. Break the dream down into big chunky steps and focus on each of those steps for a period of time.
Surround yourself with inspiration
Finally, take a look at the people you surround yourself with. Do they inspire your dreams, or are they like the proverbial crabs in a bucket, pulling you back down every time you try to crawl free?
Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Look for ways to connect with people who say yes to life, rather than “no, because.” Go to workshops. Get involved in a mastermind group. Connect with people online. Listen to inspiring speakers, whether live or via CD/mp3/etc. Watch movies about inspiring people or events. Watch documentaries about people who have made amazing things happen.
The more positive stimulus you get, the weaker the hold Assoonasitis can have on you.
--
Time for a career change? Launch it with
The Occupational Adventure Guide:
A Travel Guide to the Career of Your Dreams
