How big is your but?

(Sorry, couldn't resist a bit of bottom humour.)

Let me ask you a question...

What's the one thing you've always wanted to do?

I don't necessarily mean what you want to do for the rest of your life, but if I asked you about that one thing, one dream, one goal, what would you tell me? That thing you would do if there were no obstacles. Would you sail around the world? Run a marathon? Sing in front of hundreds of people? Start a charity? Quit your job and go back to university? Learn another language? Be a mum or dad?

Can I ask you another question?

What's stopping you?

What are your buts?

(Ok, so that was two questions)

What stops any of us? I'm not going to argue that th

ere aren't valid reasons that prevent you from doing certain things. I know it's not that simple. But let's just talk about some of the common things that stop us, the common "I would do it, but..."s

FEAR - could this be your biggest excuse? Would you admit it if it was? Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of losing everything. It's scary to step out of your snug and warm little box of comfort, of financial security, of having people you love and trust around you, of knowing what the future will look like. And I'm not saying those are bad things. No, sometimes they are the best of things. But what if, to achieve the thing that makes you come alive, you have to give those things up for a little while?

LACK OF DISCIPLINE - you have a goal. That's a start. but making a goal, however specific, however noble, however selfless is pointless unless you're prepared to work for it. It's not going to fall into your lap just because you want it so badly, or even because you really deserve it. It takes practise, discipline, sacrifice, even pain. Decide if it's worth it, then decide to work.

SETBACKS - so you tried once before, maybe twice, maybe more. It didn't work. That's OK, pick yourself up, try it again. Try it another way. Try it better. The only time when you really fail is when you stop trying.

Your buts can keep you from even crossing the starting line. So, how can you shush your buts?

ACCOUNTABILITY - it's harder to go back on something when other people know about it, when they keep asking you about it. Talk to some people about the things you want to do.

GOALS - I hate it a little that I'm referring to my physio training but here it is. When we make a goal for a patient eg. Patient X should have 180 degrees of shoulder elevation in their right shoulder in four weeks, it has to be S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timed). If your goal is big, break it down and tick off the parts as you achieve them.

ANALYSE - Why is this so important to me? Why do I want to achieve this? Before you start, work it out, write it down and keep going back to it when the buts get too big.

This world needs people to come alive, to do the things they're passionate about. Too many people just survive day to day, but imagine the changes that could happen for you, for those around you, your community, your city and on and on and on if you decided to silence your buts and do that thing that makes you come alive.