“Better late than never” is a very well-known proverb that is often expressed with a degree of sarcasm, apparently saying something positive but in fact merely remarking on someone's lateness. A coworker might say it to someone arriving late for work, for example. It appears that Geoffrey Chaucer appears was the first person to have put the proverb into print, in The Yeoman's Prologue and Tale, Canterbury Tales, circa 1386: “For bet than never is late” (better than never is late).
To arrive or do something later than expected isn't good, but it is better than not at all. Patience, as we are told, is a virtue – but some people wait longer than others for success to come. We can easily fall into the trap of thinking that if we haven’t achieved a goal we set or fulfilled our ambitions by a set date, we believe that it is no longer achievable.
It’s never too late to start something or pick something back up. Our goal in life is to be constantly improving, constantly evolving. We want to be the very best, the top 1%. In this environment, we can’t wait until the opportune moment because that moment may never come. We have to do it while things are a little tough, busy, and/or hectic in our lives. We have to choose growth, even when it is difficult. We have to choose to make time for our health, even when we believe that we don’t have the time. Below are a few tips that might help motivate you to engage in a task that you thought the change for achievement had expired on.
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone: This is one that you have already heard before in previous Motivation Mondays. Sticking to work and things that feel familiar allows us to stay in our comfort zone where we feel safe and secure. But it can also make us feel stifled and unfulfilled, trading off what we love doing for what we have settled to do. To push beyond your comfort zone, start off by experimenting with your daily activities – start training with Coach Steve, explore new places, or learn a new language. Experiencing a change in your environment and pushing yourself to try something new can open you up to new thoughts and emotions about what’s possible.
Value your experience: Whether you’ve created art but never displayed your work or invested years into an education that you may never use, your experiences haven’t been a waste of time. Each experience has provided you with valuable skills, contacts and insights that may have helped you to identify what you really want to do. Writing a list of your strengths and skills can help boost your confidence and see the value in your life experiences.
Be aware of your internal dialogue: Many of us can hold ourselves back from reaching our potential because we are consumed with thoughts of self-doubt and a lack of efficacy in our capabilities. Building your self-awareness is one of the most powerful ways to overcome your self-doubt. Creating awareness around your thought patterns can help you to break the cycle of ineffective thoughts that keep us stagnant. Remember that you have access to a performance psychologist, Kate, in NSHQ that can help you sort through these thought patterns to ensure that you are setting yourself up for success.
Spend time with people who like minded people: We know that the people you spend time with can affect your personal success. When you surround yourself with people who have a similar passion and drive as you, their enthusiasm and motivation can rub off on you too. They can also provide a support network that you can learn from and confide in, all of which can help you to expand your horizons and evolve.
Can’t stop, won’t stop: Whether it takes you two months or 10 years to get to where you want to be, persistence pays off. Knowing that every step forward is one step closer to where you want to be, allows you to reach your goal. When you keep going, pushing through any self-doubt or obstacles, you give yourself the opportunity to transform your ideas into success. Visualizing the end goal and how you’ll feel when you’ve achieved it can help you to stay connected to your goals. Change the screensaver on your computer or stick a photo of your dream where you’ll see it every day to reinforce your vision. Remember also to acknowledge and celebrate how far you have already come and use your successes as fuel to motivate you to accomplish even more.
Whatever your age, it’s never too late to set new achievement goals. You can use your wealth of life experience, knowledge and expertise as an opportunity to do something you have always wanted to do. There is no cap on human potential.
As we help our numerous clients cope with the unique stressors inherent in today’s uncertain world, we are thrilled to offer the services of Dr. Kate Colvin, PhD. As Director of Human Performance, Kate’s role is to provide training and education around various aspects of mental and physical wellbeing, including stress management, effective thinking, mindfulness, attentional focus techniques, goal attainment, organizational leadership, memory and learning enhancement, and sleep. Kate has assisted hundreds of LSDS clients, and is available to help you navigate the path ahead. Email katecolvin@lsds.us to learn more about what Dr. Kate Colvin, PhD, can provide for you.