The Power of NOW

Did you know the word “now” is used 1,323 times in the Bible? What is the significance of NOW? The definitions of this word are “at once,” “immediately,” “at the present time” and “without delay.” It implies a sense of urgency, a need to do something right away. This can be difficult for procrastinators or even the best of planners. What if we approached everything we wanted to do or accomplish and added the word “now” at the end of the sentence?

Some suggestions could be:

• I am going to lose weight NOW.
• I am happy NOW.
• I am loved NOW.
• I choose kindness NOW.
• I am going to start a project NOW.
• I am going to be a better friend NOW.
• I am going to do the laundry NOW.
• I am going to exercise NOW.
• I am going to get out of bed NOW.
• I am going to clean out the garage NOW.
• I am going to stop complaining NOW.
• I am going to start planning that trip NOW.

This list could be endless. Anything you have been putting on the back burner or are waiting until you feel like doing it could be added here. Change happens when we put the power of NOW to the idea.

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” — Alice Walker

Many fall into the trap of “when” instead of employing the action-based “now.” Examples are “when I finish getting my degree, I am going to pursue my dream job,” “when the kids are grown I am going to do things for myself” or “when I finish paying off my debt I am going to have more fun.” If you apply the “now” action plan to those same statements, they sound very different:

“I am going to pursue my dream job NOW,” “I am going to do things for myself NOW” and “I am going to have more fun NOW.” You can be working toward something like getting an education, raising children and paying off debt while still embracing the power of now. Putting things off until some magical, perfect time is an invitation to an illusion. Now is when you apply the sense of urgency, the immediacy, the without-delay attitude.

“If not now, when?”

The use of the word now also signifies that there is no waiting period. Good is available to you now. Abundance is within reach now. Beauty surrounds you now. Love is present now. Health is happening now. Relationship harmony is possible now. Happy or sad is a choice now. Imagine that! There is no waiting period when you choose now. All that we could ever want or need is now.

It’s easy to get lost in limited thinking: thinking that we have to be in a better position or location, have a better education, a different ethnicity, or a host of other limiting labels. So much information and misinformation swirls around like a force of nature that makes us buy into such gross limitations. If you can think it and dream it—it is possible. One small way to practice this way of thinking and being is choosing to utilize the power of now.

Mel Robbins, author of The 5 Second Rule, shares how to apply the 5 Second Rule Countdown to taking action. It helps redirect you to take charge of your mind and break the pattern of overthinking and self-doubt. It also helps in transforming bad habits into good ones, and taking control of your life. If you need a brief countdown to now, the 5 second rule is a great one to apply.

Once you have a thought to do something, you stand a better chance of accomplishing it with immediate action while in the moment. One small example: Your alarm goes off. Instead of hitting snooze, you countdown 5-4-3-2-1 and get up! Another example: You can’t find anything in your closet because it is a mess. You need to go through it and purge. 5-4-3-2-1, start with one wall or the floor or one section. If you can’t accomplish the whole thing now, at least you’ve begun. Make that one task a priority when you have an extra 15 or 30 minutes. Now that you’ve started it, keep going until it is done. When you take this kind of action towards anything in your life, you are creating momentum. Momentum is what will keep you moving forward and delighting in real change or transformation.

Say “yes” to now.

“Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.” — Eleanor Roosevelt