“It’s not the will to win that matter- everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
-Paul Bear Bryant
Have you ever experienced a moment in your life where you felt unprepared or caught off guard? Most of the time those moments are filled with regrets and “should have’s,” but how different could those moments be with preparation ? There are some things that we can never prepare for such as losing someone we love or some type of emergency. But, many things in life we can prepare for especially the things that we often dream about. I remember my days in college where my professor would give pop quizzes. To the prepared students it was the opportunity of a lifetime, and the chance to gain extra points. But, to the unprepared students it felt like the most inconvenient task of the day. Why did it seem so inconvenient? Was it because we didn’t expect it? or was it due to our lack of preparation?
How often do we go through life wanting more than we are prepared for? We dream about the future being better than our current situation but what are we doing today to prepare for it? Preparation is the action or process of being made READY for use or consideration. What are you doing today to ensure that you are READY for what you really want?
I set a goal at the beginning of last year to lose weight and develop a healthy lifestyle. I knew exactly what I wanted and I prepared for it. What if I would have set the same goal and continued living the way that I was living. I would have never made the progress I have seen today. Preparation has been key for me making so much progress and being prepared to see exactly what I want. If you really want something you have to prepare yourself for the process. I often love seeing instant results of something that I am working hard for but life is not always that simple. Some things take time. What we do with that time will determine the results we see.
In order for me to see the progress I have seen today I had to develop a plan and the discipline to work the process. The process has been hard especially in the beginning but over time this health journey had become a lifestyle. Creating the right habits and applying the actions that will help me to get the results I am wanting has been critical. This process has taught me that if you want something you have to be willing to change things up and work at it everyday. What you do everyday adds up overtime. What if your dreams really are possible to reach if you do a little bit everyday? My life has changed so much over the years because everyday I work on my goals, even in the little actions.
These are some tips I have learned from my journey about how to prepare:
1.) Plan and be willing to grow through the process
Never stop growing. “You will only go as far as your willingness to keep growing.” What are you doing to grow in this season of your life? Where do you want to see yourself in the next year? How are you going to grow? One thing I’ve learned is that growth is not automatic. Growth is intentional. When we were young and in school we were forced to grow and our education was pushed down our throats. Now that we are older we are responsible for creating our own growth environment. If we feel stuck in life it’s due to our lack our creating continual growth in our lives. One thing I like to do is listen to a podcast and read to help me grow. This helps me to be intentional and grow through every season of life.
“THE BEST PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW IS DOING YOUR BEST TODAY.”
-H. JACKSON BROWN JR.
2.) Do the things you know you need to do
“Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.” Sometimes later becomes never. Everyday we have the opportunity to prepare and get better. We know the changes we need to make and the habits we need to break in order to become the best version of ourselves. If we know exactly what we need to do, why not start now? Before I got married and started dating, I remember being in a season of life that felt like constant preparation. I knew exactly who I was going to marry when I first laid eyes on him. I had never met him the moment I first saw him but I knew in my heart there was something very special and different about him. We became friends for years before we even started dating but during all those year I was growing, finishing college, working and becoming the best version of myself. When the right time and moment came he asked me on a date and the rest is history.
SUCCESS IS WHERE PREPARATION AND OPPORTUNITY MEET.”
-BOBBY UNSER
3.) Seize the moment with confidence
When the opportunity comes move forward with confidence. When you are fully prepared you have all the reason to be confident and to give your best. Whenever I would study for a test in college and I really understood the information, I was confident that I would pass the test. Preparation breeds confidence. When you have taken the time to prepare for what you want you don’t to be afraid when the moment comes.
I just want to encourage you to prepare yourself for what you want to see. You never know when your opportunity will come but when it does come make sure you are ready. Plan and build a better future for yourself. There is a world of opportunity that awaits you, but your willingness to prepare determines everything. Don’t ever give up on something you really want. Keep preparing and give it time. Thanks for reading! I hope this encourages you.
What is something that you are preparing to see happen? What a goal you are currently working towards? Comment below I would love to hear your story.
Intentional Hope 