Pamela is the world's biggest procrastinator. She makes promises to everyone but never manages to see them through. Her company president offers her a new career opportunity. Pamela responds, "I can't leave my old job. My boss needs me.” Pamela always hesitates to make decisions. She never takes any risks. She never achieves her personal goals. Pamela never pursues any of her dreams. She's disgusted with her life. Pamela wants more. As she waits to talk with a psychiatrist, Pamela wonders why she can't be happy.

Why are you just waiting? Why aren't you pursuing your dreams? You just sit and wait for something to happen. That's procrastination. You don't want to make a change because you feel you may make a mistake. It causes you to cheat yourself out of happiness. At some point, we have all procrastinated, not wanting to move on an action. You say, "Now is not the right time." You take no action. People have different motivations for taking action. Taking action means taking risk. Taking risk may cause you fear. This process creates self-doubt. Self-limiting beliefs are doubts that you create about your abilities. They cause you to feel inferior. You feel like you don't deserve the best. You allow others to set your expectations. When you think like this, there is no way to win. You create negative ideas that you aren't smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough, connected enough, creative enough, or powerful enough. "I can't" becomes your motto.

Armed with these beliefs, you wait, and wait, and wait, and wait, until—life passes you by. The more you repeat these self-limiting thoughts, the more you become trapped in your ways. Remember the definition of insanity: "doing the same thing that you always do and expecting something different to happen." That's a crazy way for anyone to live. Some people get caught up in this vicious circle. For example, New Year's resolutions are a big tradition for Americans. As a new year begins, people start reflecting on the past and decide they are going to change. Most people want to accomplish something in life. A new year could spark a new beginning; however, it gives most people time to make excuses for unfulfilled dreams. Doesn't this sound like a litt

Stop generating self-doubt. Take action. Samuel Johnson said almost two centuries ago, "When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, he concentrates his mind wonderfully.” You need to wake up. Procrastinators try to put off until tomorrow what they should do today. However, you can change and move in a new direction. Use the following steps to move toward action:

1. Identify where the task is in terms of your priorities.
2. Create a motivation for taking action.
3. Develop a plan for seeing your task through.
4. Set a deadline for completion.
5. Break the task down into smaller components.
6. Reward yourself after each task.

Don't wait any longer. Tomorrow is not promised to you. Now is the time for action. All it takes is a little act of courage on your part. Stand tall and have faith. "But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” We need to stop waiting and move. One speaker said, "There's a fork at the end of the road. What do you do? Take one.” You have now approached the busy highway of life. What are you going to do? Don't worry about making mistakes. Don't worry about failing. That's a part of life. Get help when you need it. Don't fall into the same trap of thinking you can do it all by yourself. You don't have to cheat yourself. Take action today on your dreams.