What Happens When Someday Becomes Today?

Have you ever dreamed about something for so long that when you finally had the opportunity to actually get it, your first feeling was excitement, quickly followed by the thought - is this the right thing to do? 

It’s funny how that happens. We all have our someday things. Someday I’m going to take that trip. Someday I’m going to start that business. Someday I’m going to move. Someday I’m going to write the book, redo the kitchen, learn something new, or finally do that thing I’ve been talking about for years.

Someday dreams are wonderful because they are safe. We can imagine them exactly the way we want. No budgets to figure out, no decisions to make, no risks to take, and no possibility of anything going wrong.

Then, every once in a while, someday becomes today. The opportunity actually appears. And suddenly the dream that sounded so exciting from a distance feels a little terrifying up close.

Instead of thinking about everything that could go right, and all the possibilities, our brains immediately become incredibly efficient at pointing out everything that could go wrong.

What if I can’t afford it? What if I’m not ready? What if I make the wrong decision? What if someone else gets there first? What if it turns out to be harder than I thought?

And my personal favorite: What if I regret it?

The human brain can turn a wonderful possibility into a full-blown crisis before we’ve even finished our morning coffee. The funny thing is, we seldom give the other “what ifs” nearly as much attention.

What if it works? What if I figure it out? What if I’m more capable than I think I am? What if this is one of those decisions I look back on someday and think, “I’m so glad I did that”?

Of course, this doesn’t mean that every opportunity is meant to be taken. Sometimes the answer really is no. Sometimes the timing isn’t right. Sometimes the numbers don’t work. Sometimes the dream we had five years ago isn’t the dream we want anymore.

But I’m beginning to think there is a difference between deciding something isn’t right for us and letting fear decide before we’ve even explored the possibility.

Fear likes certainty. It wants guarantees. It would like a detailed report showing exactly how everything is going to turn out before we make a move.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t seem to offer many of those.

Most of the things worth doing come with at least a little uncertainty. We gather the information we can. We ask questions. We look at the reality of the situation. We think it through. And then, at some point, we have to trust ourselves enough to make the best decision we can with what we know.

Maybe that is the real difference between a someday dream and a real one. Real dreams are messier. They have price tags, deadlines, and complications. They require decisions. They occasionally make your stomach hurt. They don't arrive wrapped neatly with a note saying, “Don't worry. This is definitely going to work out.”

And maybe that's okay. Because when something you've wanted for a long time suddenly becomes possible, you don't have to immediately know exactly how it will all turn out. You just have to be willing to look at the possibility before fear talks you out of it.

So if one of your “somedays” unexpectedly shows up this fall, maybe don't slam the door because it arrived carrying a few what-ifs with it. Take a look. Ask the questions. Run the numbers. And imagine the possibilities.

And while you're considering everything that could go wrong, make sure you leave a little room for one more question.

What if it turns out better than you imagined?