The Life We Keep Putting Off

By Hyacinth Vanderpool

There's a little phrase we use so often that we hardly notice what we're saying anymore.

"When things settle down."

I'll take better care of myself when things settle down. I'll learn that new skill, get serious about my finances, spend more time doing what I enjoy, or finally explore that idea I've been carrying around for years.

And we have every intention of following through.

The trouble is, life doesn't always cooperate.

Just when one problem is resolved, something else needs our attention. There are bills to pay, people depending on us, unexpected expenses, family obligations, and the ordinary demands of getting through another week.

Before long, the things we wanted for ourselves have quietly moved further down the list.

But here's something worth considering.

What if we're waiting for a time that may never come?

I don't mean that life will always be difficult. There are certainly seasons when things become easier, and there are very good reasons to postpone particular plans.

But there's a difference between waiting because we genuinely need to and waiting because we've grown accustomed to putting ourselves last.

Sometimes we don't even recognize the difference anymore.

We tell ourselves we're being practical, and perhaps we are. But every now and then, it might be worth examining whether the reasons we're giving ourselves are still valid.

Take something as ordinary as learning a new skill.

You might genuinely believe you don't have the time. And perhaps you don't have the time for a three-hour class or a demanding course with weekly assignments.

But could you find fifteen minutes a few times a week?

That might not sound like much, but over several months, you could learn quite a bit.

The same thinking applies to improving your finances, strengthening relationships, taking better care of your health, or exploring the possibility of earning additional income.

We sometimes dismiss small beginnings because they seem too insignificant to make a difference.

Yet small beginnings are often the only realistic ones available to us.

So where do we begin?

Perhaps by being a little more honest with ourselves.

Think of one thing you've been postponing. Not ten things, and certainly not everything you wish were different about your life.

Just one.

Then consider whether you really need to wait, or whether there's a smaller version of that goal you could begin working toward now.

Maybe the first step is gathering information. Maybe it's making a phone call, setting aside a modest amount of money, or giving yourself permission to spend thirty minutes doing something you've wanted to do for years.

Whatever it is, make it manageable enough to fit into the life you're actually living.

Because that's the life you have to work with. Not the imaginary one where nothing interrupts your plans and everything falls neatly into place.

And here's something else I've come to appreciate: We don't have to be dissatisfied with our lives to want something more from them.

We can be grateful for what we have and still recognize opportunities to grow, learn, contribute, and experience new things.

Those two feelings aren't contradictory.

At Design A Great Life, that's part of what I want us to explore together: how to make thoughtful, practical choices that help us live with greater freedom, purpose, meaning, and prosperity.

Not by pretending that life is simple, or that everyone has the same opportunities, but by making the most of the choices available to us.

So, perhaps the next time you hear yourself saying, "I'll do it when things settle down," give that thought a little more attention.

It may be perfectly reasonable to wait.

But it may also be time to begin.