Stop Fantasizing and Start Acting.

So many of us fall into the trap of constantly fantasizing.

We fantasize about the perfect job, the perfect relationship, lifestyle, group of friends, environment, etc.

Fantasizing is an escape from the aspects of our lives we don't love, but constantly seeking this escape will have you thinking that this imaginary ideal place you dream of actually exists.

And the truth is it doesn't.

Fantasizing leads us down the trap of believing the grass is always greener on the other side.

It has us making decisions based on pure fiction rather than reality and logic.

The truth is, no matter where you go, how you look, or anything, your problems will follow you if you don't deal with them.

I've said this before, and I will say it again many, many times — life will never be void of problems.

And if that's what you're looking for, be prepared to be constantly disappointed.

The cure for a thinking problem is action — Stop overthinking.

And just do.

If you're constantly going in circles in your mind about what isn't happening in your life, odds are, you’re not doing what it takes to get what you're looking for.

I was in that spot for years!

And I made the idea of change and action much more overwhelming than it is.

Before I started writing, the idea of self-publishing anything seemed super overwhelming. That's because I was thinking of the whole picture rather than the first step.

Eventually, I gathered the courage to say f*ck it and started writing anyways.

Lo and behold, it was not the monumental task I thought it was.

Taking that first step, publishing my first blog, was the start of this journey, and I'm forever grateful for it.

In writing, I found a piece of myself I never knew existed.

So, if you're overwhelmed by the idea of taking that first step, you need to do it so you can realize how much you're overthinking it.

But more importantly, so you can realize you're already ready to take a second, third, fourth, fifth, and so on.

You don't need to wait for permission. Just take the plunge.

The cure for an action problem is thinking — Stop running on a hampster wheel.

Have you done the same thing over and over, expecting different results?

Yeah, I've been there, too, and it took me far too long to realize it.

When I started writing, I thought I was going viral and all my writing (and financial) dreams would finally come true.

Spoiler: it didn't happen.

The truth is, although I loved writing when I first started, my main focus was the money potential.

And although that's great for motivation, it isn't the one that will carry you through the tough times.

If anything, it will do the opposite. Discourage you.

I've been on this platform for over two years. Some may say that's a long time. Others may say I'm just starting.

Recently, I chose to think honestly about what I was doing that wasn't working to reach my goals.

I realized I wasn't doing enough. I wasn't writing enough.

I thought a minimum of ten blogs per month would be enough to get me somewhere and don't get me wrong, it did. But not where I thought it would.

So, at the beginning of this month (November), I was honest about the action I wasn't taking and committed to change it.

I finally got off the hampster wheel and started walking towards where I wanted to go.

Now, I'm on track to publish twenty blogs this month — double what I used to write.

But that's the change in thinking and action required to reach the next level.

Remember, anything and everything in this world is not and will never be perfect.

But we can get very darn close if we work to create it.

I used to daydream all the time when I was in college.

Constantly seeking an escape from life and a routine I wasn't thrilled about.

Throughout these couple of years that have passed, I've realized a crucial lesson about life and expectations.

Life will never be exactly like the perfect picture you made in your mind. It will never be void of problems and challenges, and if you refuse to accept that this is how things are, you will never be content with anything you achieve or accomplish.

I'm not saying not to have high expectations or standards. I'm saying we need to accept that things will most likely not happen exactly how we thought they would.

There will be unexpected twists and turns and delays. We can't do anything about those.

But what we can do is pivot and adjust so we can continue moving in the direction we want to go.

And that's precisely what I'm doing right now. I'm pivoting to begin making progress towards becoming an accomplished writer here on Medium.

What will you change today to move closer toward your goals?