Tomorrow is Today -The Fierce Urgency of Now
How do we create a sense of urgency within ourselves?
“The trouble is you think you have time.” -Buddha
“I am here to pay my property taxes.”
“Sir, they are past due. I’m afraid there will be a late fee.”
My life has become a series of late fees.
Daydreaming of the future, ruminating on the past, not getting after the present. I have become my own worst enemy; nothing seems urgent anymore. And when nothing seems urgent, you begin to sleepwalk through life.
For those of us who move at a slower pace, for those who tend to procrastinate…
How do we create a sense of urgency within ourselves?
Author Robert Greene says to place yourself on death ground, “where your back is against the wall, and you have to fight like hell to get out alive.” But that seems extreme for a guy trying to pay off his credit card on time.
It’s true; we get things done when necessary, when no other option exists. We can create this feeling of necessity with deadlines.
Self-created deadlines can generate urgency. Provided the deadline is close enough. Too far off, and a deadline carries no urgency.
The determination to accomplish something worthwhile every day drives urgency. It’s the decision to make progress now while we have the opportunity.
Large projects may cause hesitation. But we can cut larger projects down into bite-size portions. Then, use daily and hourly deadlines to keep moving forward.
You can knock off those tasks you dread by setting a timer and giving yourself a fixed amount of time to finish them. I like to do this with housework, pushing myself to finish before the timer sounds off.
Moving forward with a sense of purpose will force you to focus on what you are doing. It will build momentum you can use to be more productive, moving from task to task.
It’s also helpful to remind yourself that anything can happen. Despite our plans, we don’t know what tomorrow may bring. You could lose your job, get sick, or even die. As we discovered with the COVID-19 pandemic, the unexpected happens.
I stumbled upon a powerful poem in the pages of an obscure book published in 1671, “Time And The End” by John Fox.
Contemplate these words. They are as relevant to us as those who read them over three hundred and fifty years ago.
“Awake, awake, you that sleep.
Open your eyes, stand on your feet, and behold and see what a sea of blood and wrath is here!”
See and believe; believe and consider; consider and fear; fear and fly; and make haste in your work.
Your work is great and mighty;
diversions are many;
adversaries are strong;
your strength is small;
your time is short;
your account is great.
Death and judgment are at the door.
Therefore, up and be doing, now or never.”
Do you hear the clock ticking? We all face deadlines. They can be self-created, forced upon us by others, or part of our natural existence in an uncertain world.
Neglect your problems, and they will only get worse.
Keep putting things off, and your dreams will evaporate, never realized.
While you daydream, your rivals pass you by and prosper.
Don’t wait until you think you’re ready; get started now. Take action and use your urgency to turn your fantastic ideas into reality.
