Do not let convenience be your master

I have an action item on my to-do list that has been on my to-do list every day since Monday.

It’s not work-related, it’s something personal and important…at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

But then again, what’s that saying?

Oh right: actions speak louder than words.

Here’s what happened Monday through Wednesday:

As I wrapped up the work day, I saw this action item on my to-do list and ran through a sequence of 3 thoughts:

1. I’m tired
2. I still have to cook dinner.
3. Ah heck, I’ll just do it tomorrow.

So I punted it to the next day.

And the next day, and the next day.

Here’s the ugly truth: I crave convenience.

I have all these ambitions and things I wanna do, but a part of me wants to do them on my terms — when I’m not tired and hungry and when I have an abundance of time.

Here’s the second ugly truth: if you wait until circumstances are convenient, you will end up doing very little.

There will always be competing priorities.

You will have so many days when you’re tired.

Life, more often than not, is inconvenient.

This means if you want to make things happen, you will often have to make the conscious choice to do them when it is inconvenient — when you’re tired, when you don’t’ wanna, when the world is demanding other things of you.

Screw convenience, it’s a destructive requirement. Get it out of your life.

Whatever it is you’ve been putting off, quit that — seriously.

For your own sake, for your long-term fulfillment, just do it.