What To Do When You Believe You’re Not the Person You Need to Be

“I’m just not the person I need to be to make it happen yet.”

Sound familiar? You’re talking about your big dreams or vision and what you want to accomplish in this life, but you stop yourself short with a phrase such as the one above. You believe you’re not ready to start, because you’re not the person you need to be in order to make that dream a reality. And, you know, you’re probably right… but it’s never an excuse not to start right now.

When I started, I wasn’t the person I needed to be to have this business and grow it successfully. When I imagined a love like I have now, I wasn’t the person I needed to be to receive it, or the person I needed to be to cultivate it. When I set out to run a half marathon, I wasn’t a “runner” and could barely make it 3/4 of a mile without wanting to die. I’m not presently the person I need to be to have the life and business I currently hold a vision for.

If I had let these facts stop me from starting, I most certainly would never have become the person I am today, with the business and relationship I have, on my way to completing my first half marathon. If I let the fact that I’m not the person I need to be in order to have what I envision in my future, I most certainly won’t ever create it for myself.

You’re rarely ever going to be the person you need to be to accomplish what you want to accomplish at the start.

What you have to understand is simple: you don’t need to be.

The journey is what shapes you into the person you need to be. The successes, failures, experiences, connections, lessons, tears, laughter, and everything in between. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t started working to become it.

And I didn’t become it overnight. Far from it! But what I’ve built in my life from starting and working towards this life is far better than I ever could have imagined.

So, if you’re ready to create what you want in your life and let go of the excuse that you’re not who you need to be, here are four steps to get moving:

1) Get clear on your vision.

What exactly do you want to create for yourself? What does it look like? Who’s involved? Where are you? What exactly are you doing? Most importantly, what do you want to feel? What’s the essence of your vision? Create a vision board and journal all the details until you’re crystal clear on what you want to create.

2) Who do you need to be to create this?

Get honest about where you’re at now in comparison to where you want to be, but don’t let it discourage you. This isn’t about feeling behind, it’s about seeing what you need to start working on to get to where you want to be. If you want to be a writer, you should probably create a writing routine and practice. If you want to travel, you should probably start a savings plan or removing yourself from obligations that get in the way.

3) Take action.

Keep taking action while holding your vision very clearly in front of you. Remember – failures, missteps, roadblocks, and setbacks are all part of the journey. Don’t look at them as a reason to throw in the towel, look at them as the challenges which will shape you into who you need to be to truly fulfill your vision.

4) Stay open.

Like I said, what you end up creating doesn’t always look exactly like you planned. Pay attention to how you feel and what feels right. The perfect relationship may be far different than you planned, but as long as it’s in alignment with the essence and feelings you want to create, you’re right on track. The perfect business may not be anything like you expected, but as long as it feels right to you, it’s golden.

Take action now!

What’s one goal you’ve been putting off because you’re “not who you need to be yet”? Work through the steps above and start becoming that person today!