Why Do We Wait?

Have you ever noticed how often we put things off? Most of the time, we have good reasons—being responsible with our choices is important, especially when it comes to big decisions. But I bet you can think of at least three things, big or small, that you keep telling yourself you'll do one day—once you have more time. More money. More energy. More freedom. More, more, more.

I find myself in this cycle too. When I get caught up in planning big things, like buying a house, I put off the little joys. For example, I'd love to buy fresh flowers, but I tell myself it's best to wait for spring or summer. I'd love to finish my manuscript, but I convince myself that I need a full, uninterrupted day to write or even think about the story. I want to save money, but I keep waiting until I get my work bonus to start.

As I write these things, I feel hesitation because I know I’m making excuses. I could do these things anytime—I don’t need to wait for the perfect moment. Flowers are still sold in the winter. I can save money little by little. But I get caught up in the stories I tell myself about why I can’t do the things I want now. If I keep waiting, it will always be later—but later isn’t guaranteed.

Being Intentional with What You Want

Acknowledging what brings you joy is easy when you truly know yourself. The next step is creating time and space for those things. In a world where everything is expensive and time is precious, we need to be intentional about how we spend our days.

The truth is, we often lie to ourselves to create excuses. We say we don’t have time to draw, even though we desperately want to. I tell myself I don’t have time to write or map out my story ideas, but the reality is that I simply don’t prioritize my passions. I am blessed with two kids and a home to care for, yet I use those blessings as excuses when they are not the real reason I put things off. Another lie.

What excuses do you use? Your job? Your relationship? Your family commitments?

Yes, work, relationships, and home maintenance take up time, but how do we spend the rest of our day?

A big culprit? Social media. If social media is your profession, no judgment—but for most of us, it’s a time thief. Have you binged a show recently? I have. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to escape into another world on TV or have a movie marathon, but let’s make sure we’re watching things we actually care about instead of mindlessly consuming content. That’s the difference between passive distraction and intentional enjoyment.

Ask yourself: Why am I watching this true crime documentary? Why am I falling down a YouTube rabbit hole of conspiracy theories? Is it just a habit, or is there a deeper curiosity? Maybe you have an unacknowledged passion for criminology. The more we question our choices, the more we give ourselves purpose.

We think we don’t have time for the things we love, yet we find time for things that don’t truly serve us. I challenge you to reflect on why you feel that way. Why do we choose habits that don’t benefit us over the ones that make us feel fulfilled?

Trying New Things

As I get older, I notice that I hesitate more when it comes to new experiences. The unknown can feel scary—especially if we expect the worst.

Think about your mindset when trying something new. Often, we brace ourselves for failure so that we won’t be disappointed. But what if we shifted our thinking? Instead of dwelling on the worst-case scenario, what if we focused on the best-case scenario?

Having a positive mindset is essential for growth. Being hopeful is more motivating than being pessimistic. We need a little mix of delusion and practicality to push ourselves forward—to give ourselves the space to try our best without the fear of failure holding us back.

Fear can keep us from our goals. If you want to get in shape but are scared of breaking your routine, why even start? I used to be afraid of flying, but I wanted to travel and explore new places. If I had let fear win, I would have missed out on incredible experiences. Do you see how fear keeps you from growth?

So, Why Do We Wait?

We wait to do the things we love because of fear, insecurity, and the excuses we reinforce. You’ll know this applies to you if you spend time doing things you don’t care about but claim you don’t have time for the things you do care about. If you blame your blessings—your family, your job, your commitments—for not being more intentional with your time.

We have to stop waiting. Life is happening now.

I understand that stress can make us want to disconnect—I relate to that deeply. But please don’t ignore your own growth opportunities by putting your life on hold because of fear or doubt.

You can do it. And you deserve to.