Sometimes people come to me with a laundry list of excuses.
One of the main ones is: “Henri, I can’t follow my passion because I have kids and a job. I’m not like you. I don’t have enough time.”
But time is never the problem.
You can always use whatever time you have to explore and follow what makes you come alive.
Even if you only have five minutes, you can use that time to listen to an audiobook, read a book, take a course, or explore your interests.
Just because you can’t do much doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything.
It’s about starting with what you have.
The problem isn’t time, but mindset
You could say that your circumstances are different from mine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start.
Besides, sometimes going from zero to following your passion full-time could be a bad idea. You put too much pressure on yourself.
So if you have 10 minutes a day to explore what you are interested in, start there.
This isn’t about having unlimited time, it’s about working with what you’ve got.
You determine when you start
You see, it’s not my job to convince you that you can do this. It’s yours.
And you don’t even have to convince yourself. You just have to start, and see what happens.
You can start right now, if you want to.
Your mindset is the only thing holding you back. If you believe that you don’t have time, then that is the reality you get to experience.
The video
As always, below is a super short video on this topic.
It complements the article, so watch it, and then continue reading.
And if you want more videos like this, remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.
The key is to start tiny (and build momentum)
If you only have five minutes to spare before you go to bed, use that time to read and learn.
When you first discover that you can do what you love, it’s about learning. You learn what’s possible. You listen to audiobooks. You read books. You watch talks.
You expand your horizons.
You bask in the knowledge that’s out there.
Even five minutes per day makes a difference in the long-term. When you carve out time for yourself every single day, you build a habit, and you build momentum.
Eventually those five minutes may turn to ten, twenty, sixty, and so on.
But even if they don’t, your life will change.
When you’re determined to find time, you find time. The time is already there, you just have to open your eyes.
And if you don’t have the energy…
Then don’t do anything.
Don’t try to find and follow your passion just because someone told you to.
If you are happy with your life, then live your life.
And if your excuses feel insurmountable, let them be. Let the energy within you build until you can’t take your own excuses any longer.
This is all an experiment. Play with it.
You don’t have to take it so seriously.
In the end, it’s up to you
You can give me, or someone else, a list of excuses, but it’s not my job to do anything about it, it’s yours.
No one is holding you back except yourself.
Now, you could feel bad about not being perfect, but the truth is that everyone has their own shadows to deal with.
You’re not alone.
You don’t have to be perfect.
Just find a tiny bit of time, and work with it. Play with it.
See what happens.
Have some fun, okay?
All the best,
Henri
P.S. Interested in discovering your passion, or becoming clearer about your purpose? Check out my book: Find Your Passion: 25 Questions You Must Ask Yourself.
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Having a full time job that literally demands most of my time and attention, it is really frustrated at times to feel that you do not have enough time for your passion.
But after reading this, I’ve realized your points. “it’s about working with what you’ve got.”
Even a few minutes can be very crucial if you stay focused and you commit to doing your best.
Thank you for this reminder and encouragement, Henri
Absolutely. It’s easy to get stuck thinking that there’s no time.
Hey Henri, this is actually super spot on man and let me tell you why:
I’ve been on two out of three scenarios…
1. I had all the time in the world and I spent 4.5 years of my life trying to make a business out of nothing and it didn’t work out for me (I lacked a lot of discipline and a clear goal)
2. Now I’m married, I have a job, I don’t have any time at all and I have a little more money than before (I’m finally clearing my debts) and yes, it can be frustrating that I have to juggle my time between having a spouse, a job, internet marketing, family, social life and even entertainment time.
I have also found that I can sacrifice most of these activities (except for wife and my job) to focus more on IM or as much as I can, I still have to constantly battle against social pressure from my wife, attending family events, visiting my in-laws, my own parents, etc; but that’s how it is.
If I really want to create a better lifestyle for my wife and I (which I do) then some sacrifices have to be made and not all the time I can find her support on that but again, it has to be done.
My marriage is suffering a bit but I’m pretty sure it will pay off a lot in the end.
The third stage is the one where I successfully resign from my job (which I happen to hate) to focus on my own business full time and that allows me to bring my wife with me as well.
I know it’s not going to be easy but it’s a lot easier having a clear path to follow so you know whether you’re making progress or if you’re just walking around in circles.
Great article and video man!
Sergio
Great points, Sergio.
Sometimes restrictions can set us free, and help us achieve what we couldn’t when we had all the time in the world. Restrictions help us focus.
Hey Henri,
Thanks for another post full of insight and quality information!
The time factor is the same for all of us, having a finite amount in each day. It’s a matter of how we utilize our time that creates opportunities or barriers that we must deal with in order to create the life we want.
Inertia.
That’s the problem we all must deal with in order to start moving in the direction we aspire to in life.
If we’re sentient, then we must overcome the inertia of not wanting to change or get busy to change our life.
If we’re overwhelmed with activity; career, family, social activities, recreation, hobbies, etc, then we need to find a way to overcome that inertia in order to reshape our priorities in order to move in the direction of our passion.
You’re right – it’s a matter of starting.
I started with a few minutes in the early morning when my thoughts are relatively clear and my energy level is high.
Today I’m spending over an hour pursuing my passion by reading the blogs of the masters and soaking up the wisdom.
Your blog is one of my favorites – keep feeding me the good stuff!