"何かを達成するのにかかる時間の恐れがそれをすることの妨げにならないようにしてください"

Fear of how long something will take can paralyze us. We think about all the time and effort required, and it feels overwhelming. Yet, time is going to pass regardless, so why not use it wisely? This idea is refreshingly straightforward. Whether you pursue a goal or not, days, months, and years will keep ticking by. So, it's better to spend that time working towards something meaningful rather than letting fear hold you back.

This idea likely originated from the self-help and motivational movements of the late 20th century. People were starting to realize that they had more control over their destinies than they previously thought. This was the era when phrases like "follow your dreams" and "you can do anything" were becoming popular. In this context, our quote is a call to action—don’t be daunted by the scope of your ambitions.

Take, for example, the story of a friend of mine—let's call her Sarah. In her late 30s, Sarah decided she wanted to become a doctor. Most people would think she was crazy. After all, medical school is long and grueling, and she would be well into her 40s by the time she finished. But Sarah didn't let the fear of the time commitment stop her. She enrolled in pre-med courses, passed her exams, got into a good medical school, and now, at 45, she’s doing her residency. Yes, it took a lot of time, but that time passed anyway. Now, she has a fulfilling career that she loves.

Applying this wisdom means taking small, actionable steps toward your goals. Let's say you want to learn a new language. The idea of fluency might seem daunting. But what if you dedicated just 30 minutes a day? Over weeks and months, those small efforts would accumulate. Before you know it, you’ll be chatting away in a new tongue. The key is consistency and realizing that the time will pass whether you do something useful with it or not.

Imagine this scenario: You’re sitting in your living room, glancing at your guitar gathering dust in the corner. You’ve always wanted to learn how to play but kept putting it off because it seemed too time-consuming. Now, think about how you’d feel a year from now. Would you rather still be staring at that guitar, regretting lost time? Or would you prefer to be able to strum your favorite songs, perhaps even perform for friends and family? The choice is clear if you think about it that way.

So, here's my advice: Stop worrying about the time it will take. Just start. Break your goal into manageable pieces and chip away at it daily. The progress may seem slow, but it’s progress nonetheless. Trust that every bit of effort is worth it, because when the time passes—and it will—you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come. It's all about making that passing time work for you, rather than letting it slip through your fingers.

You’ll find that once you begin, the fear diminishes. Action breeds confidence. And before you know it, you’re not just marking time—you’re making the most of it. And that’s a pretty great way to live. So, what are you waiting for? The clock’s ticking.