“What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now.” -Buddha
We all have goals–things we’d like to accomplish and ideas of who we’d like to become through the process. But sometimes we get so bogged down in fears and self-doubt that it’s hard to commit to the changes we want to create and then work toward them consistently.
It’s not easy to do. When you’re faced with obstacles, you might get stuck. When you feel unmotivated or unsure, you might get stuck. When your goal seems too far out of reach, you might get stuck.
And you can stay stuck if you want to. You can get sidetracked by other people’s opinions. You can talk yourself out of what you want, fearing failure or maybe even fearing success. You can limit yourself with stories of things that didn’t work out in the past.
Or you can let go of everything that’s paralyzing you and decide that you’re not willing to let the now slip away and rob you of possibilities.
Tomorrow has limitless potential if you’re willing to act today. It may even become something better than you knew to imagine, but it can only happen if you start and keep going.
What tiny actions can you take today to contribute to that vision you want to create?
This is an updated version of a post published on 9/14/2009. Photo by AlicePopkorn.
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, c-PTSD, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others to do the same. You can find her books, including Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, here and learn more about her eCourse, Recreate Your Life Story, if you’re ready to transform your life and become the person you want to be.
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Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine. 
That's not entirely true. Life is a long journey and where you are now will only be a stepping stone to where you want to get to. You cannot assume the work you are doing now will not lead to something better.
Respectfully, Sam. I think you misinterpreted the quote. The point you made is exactly what the quote, and analysis of it, are saying.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Manolo Alvarez, Leonardo Kuba, Tony Salazar, Rich Newboldand others. Rich Newbold said: RT @tinybuddha: “What you are is what you have been. What you’ll be is what you do now." ~Buddha #quote http://tinyurl.com/qo6x5q […]
“The true test of ones character is not how high they get, but how they get up after they fall”
Yes. Taking action to move away from the point where one is stuck is a positive attitude for success.
If only overcomes the fear of failure and takes a bold step to move on, fulfilling the desired ambition is sure.
Good piece indeed.
Excellent post! When we are focused on positive action mixed with positive belief systems, we will reach great heights of beyond success.
While I am glad everyone knows how to RT@tinybuddah I myself am not going to be so simple. We are all on a constant changing path, it is vital that we are aware that every decision, large or small, will be an alteration of that path. So keep your vision…. your goal for the future in mind at all times…. this focus will guide you to where you want to be.
I really like this quote. we can be stuck. Really stuck. We need to move out of our comfort zone to be able to get somewhere better. Yes, this quote can be taken in different ways. The fact is we need to move to progress.
This is my coment and I agree.
I really like this quote. we can be stuck. Really stuck. We need to move out of our comfort zone to be able to get somewhere better. Yes, this quote can be taken in different ways. The fact is we need to move to progress.
This is my coment and I agree.
While I am glad everyone knows how to RT@tinybuddah I myself am not going to be so simple. We are all on a constant changing path, it is vital that we are aware that every decision, large or small, will be an alteration of that path. So keep your vision…. your goal for the future in mind at all times…. this focus will guide you to where you want to be.
Excellent post! When we are focused on positive action mixed with positive belief systems, we will reach great heights of beyond success.
Yes. Taking action to move away from the point where one is stuck is a positive attitude for success.
If only overcomes the fear of failure and takes a bold step to move on, fulfilling the desired ambition is sure.
Good piece indeed.
Thanks for republishing this today – I needed it.
This came at the right time!! Thank you very much. I’ve been stuck for years letting my life slip by. This really helps me.
You’re most welcome. =)
I’m so glad it was helpful!
Great quote! 🙂
This article works with the idea that movement creates motivation and not vice versa. – and it can be just a bit of movement. I combine that idea with using “I can’t” to innoculate myself to the resistence that occurs whenever I want to do something. The result” After about 60 years I have something to do that has helped me – at least for a couple of weeks- to get myself to be able to do something when “I don’t feel like doing it”,
The format or the m.o. of what I do can be shown with an example. This example is something that I came up with yesterday related to weight loss efforts: That idea based on being afraid to eat less for all sorts of reasons was (In I can’t format): I can’t Risk eating less than I think I should. and I take a small action in this direction. The underlining shows what part of the sentence I emphasize. It’s similar to the idea that in a sentence, everything before the “but” is disreagarded. “You did a good job with the dishes, But you didn’t put them away.”
love it! thanks.
Hmmmm
Hmmmmmmm
I have ptsd, due to be the victim of a crime. My job was everything to me, because I got to serve others with my unique skill set. Those skills also are what made me vulnerable to a predator. I’m a helper by nature. Now, when I asked my job for support, they let me go instead. I have so many families writing me to tell me how much I’ve helped them and they don’t want to see me go. But I have no choice, because my boss doesn’t want to support me when I most need it. The hypocrisy is astounding. And paralyzing. I am stuck. My symptoms exhaust me. And all I’ve ever had is my job and service to others to keep me going. I have no direction now, and I am terrified. I want to get unstuck, but how do I get through my symptoms and having to completely start over? I’m tired, very very tired. My best friend asked me recently, how do I keep going. The only answer I have is, I don’t know how to do anything else. I appreciate coming here to find bite-sized help that makes sense in a world otherwise turned upside down. Thank you.