The Waiting
I have been thinking about a statement I heard today…WHAT IF… and the context dependant on whatever is going on in your day will determine your stance on that statement. Too many of us have normalized the inclusion of the word IF in our day to day lingo. I get it though. The word IF seems to describe the unknown. It promotes wonder and inspires one to believe in the potential of the unknown. I’ll go even further and say it may even be used to inspire hope!
Now I’m not a literary genius, linguistic professional, or English language connoisseur but the word IF seems to me to be one of the two letters that are always used to define a situation, statement, or action that is plain fantasy. Or to be put simply bullshit. The wonder and mystery behind this word has been used in day to day lingo as an avenue to cop out of accountability and to absolve oneself from the liability involved with one's actions. Now I know there are people out there that will respond to this saying“…well IF I'd known…” or rather “…IF you’d have done your research… or IF you’d have paid attention/listened…or even IF you’d pull your head out of your ass…” etc. To contradict whatever I am saying right now. Hey, I’m not trying to judge; I'm also a culprit in this. I’ve often found myself say things like, “ IF I had better parents…or IF I was given an opportunity….or IF only I had… or IF I wasn't black/religious/or a Man.” STOP! ACCEPT and deal with whatever you seem to be avoiding NOW.
With the word IF you are only living in the past. You only remember the facts from a biased perspective. Hoping the future lays the golden egg you so wish will deliver you from today's problems. Anyway, this little rant here is all just to say…HEY focus on what you can do NOW. This throws your brain into figuring out what it can do right at this MOMENT and also, at the same time, switches its focus from what exactly it can’t control ( The metaphorical equivalent to spinning your tires on black ice and hoping to get somewhere) to what it can do at the moment to control the future.
So take out the IFs in your life and place your conversational tenses to refer to the NOW. “NOW what?” is the language that puts control, response-ability, and accountability back on your plate, and the best thing about it is that YOU CHOSE to do THAT and just like that, YOU control the outcomes that every situation presents. Thus becoming your very own fortune teller. Cause the future can not exist without the NOW.
QUIT WAITING and just DO IT NOW!
