Episode 10: Stop Waiting for The Perfect Conditions 

By: Yenifer De Lara 

Stop waiting for the “perfect” conditions. Stop waiting for conditions to change. Stop waiting for conditions to be better. Stop waiting for conditions to be different. 

Waiting is inaction. Waiting is indifference. Waiting is wishing. 

Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for permission to start. Don’t wait for your reality to be different, BE that different person you want to be already. Eventually reality catches up. 

There is never going to be that “perfect” day with the “perfect” conditions where you are 100% enthused to go on that run that you never wanted to do. 

There is never going to be any ideal moment in a workout where you want to keep jumping on that box, nor keep squatting into those wall-balls. 

There is never going to be that ideal day where your kid(s) behave exactly the way you want them to. There is never going to be a way to drive in which you can avoid all the bumps in the road. 

Accept where you are. Accept your conditions, only as a way to welcome new, different, better conditions. Accept one of your tires may not be well inflated, but that you have 3 other great tires. It would be worse if you didn’t have a car at all. It would be worse if you didn’t know how to drive. 

Acceptance comes a longer way than resentment. 

You thought you would make the volleyball team but turns out you didn’t. You didn’t meet the coach’s skill expectations. Accept it as an opportunity to practice and improve and gain confidence. The world, society, parents, friends (etc) will give you a story if you don’t write your own. Chances are you may be living a story where you wish you felt in better shape. 

Chances are you may be living a story where the main character, you, wishes they had more “you time.” Chances are you may be living a story where you wish you would eat more vegetables in a day. Chances are you may be living a story where you wish you could have a better sleep schedule or routine. Chances are you may be living a story where you wish you had more money, or that you could spend more money without precaution or preconceived judgements, or that you had a more fulfilling job… Chances are you may be living a story where you wish you could feel less pressure to please less people. Complaining doesn’t achieve a single thing unless you address the complaint. Wanting to be a better version of you isn’t selfish at all. The best version of you benefits everyone (read Episode 4). Committing to the best version of you is what’s needed to lift everyone’s spirit. Nothing changes if you don’t change. Lots of meaningful events happen when you allow 10-15 minutes for your mind and soul to have conversations (by journaling). A relaxed state of being is definitely necessary to compose or write a story where you are continually taking the reins. Take a few deep breaths (or many) before journaling. [There are many scientific benefits in the act of consistently writing. There are even greater scientific benefits in the act of consistently engaging in deep breaths.] 

What does it mean to write a story where you are continually taking the reins? It may look like answering a similar string of questions about your area of improvement: “How could I introduce more vegetables into my day? Which vegetable is the easiest to cook/not cook? Which vegetable is my favorite? Which vegetable am I willing to try? Which vegetable has the highest shelf life?…etc”