If you're waiting for someone else to change before you take ownership of your game-plan, well, be prepared to live disappointed, feel victimized and drink bitter tears.
It's one to thing to plan and prepare with a spouse who isn't quite on the same page. Or a team who aren't quite clear on the end goal. Or a band that's struggling to merge individual dreams with band goals. These require others to engage success together.
It's another to wait for the world to change before you go out and attempt to build into your future you.
In reality, most of our hangups are internal. Our negative self talk. Our false beliefs about the world around us and what's possible for "someone like me." And the majority of our external struggles stem from the very culture and community we've surrounded ourselves with, grown up with and settled into our way of being and doing. It's rarely the "big bad other" in some office, school or public position pressing down on us.
Q. What internal self-talk are you giving head space that's holding you back (real or imagined)? Write them down and offer a healthy response to each one.
Q. What external factors (real or imagined) are you letting hold you back from taking that next step? Write these down and respond with a plan of action for addressing each one.
Then pray.
Seek out voices that push you to plan and pursue, not play the victim.
Partner with those who are running, and have run, a healthy race.
Be grateful for your opportunity to step forward despite the world around you. Thankfulness changes things.