virgin islands scene

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
-- Anais Nin
 

 

Thursday, November 18, 1999

If only

The trouble with “if only” is that is quickly turns into “only if.” When you tell yourself something like “if only I had a new computer, then I could get much more work done” you soon start to believe that “ONLY IF I have a new computer can I get more work done."

Sure, it would be great to have a new computer -- or job, or car, or relationship, or whatever, but do you really want to limit yourself in the meantime? There’s almost always another way.

With an attitude of “if only” you effectively give control of your life over to something outside yourself. That’s not such a good idea. Success is not achieved by those who wait for conditions to be perfect. Achievement comes not from what you would do “if only” but rather from what you do with what you have, right here and now.

Challenge yourself to replace each and every “if only” with “here’s how I will with what I have.” Forget about “if only.” The time for action, the time to achieve, the time to make a difference, is now.

— Ralph Marston

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Copyright ©1999 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. All Rights Reserved. The Daily Motivator is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Other than personal sharing, please do not re-distribute without permission.