I got a thank you card from a client this month. I pinned it to my vision board because I loved the image so much. It was a picture of an aeroplane wing in the clouds taken from a seat in the sky. My client finally took the courage to move cities and was full of joy as a result. It kind of made me want to move again (alas, I love NYC too dearly).

People I coach almost always tell me they are “not ready” for the next step. Moving cities. Starting an entrepreneurial venture. Online dating. Applying for a role at a prestigious company.

The truth is, we very rarely feel ready for change or a big life advancement. But those who get what they want in this world go full steam ahead anyway. They know there’s often very little to lose and a whole lot to gain by pursuing their desires. And the more action you take, the easier it becomes over time to just keep going.

Going for it can also feel thrilling in an indescribable way. In fact, have never, ever felt more alive than when I have moved countries (I’ve lived in 6 now), quit jobs, and launched entrepreneurial projects. What do you tell yourself you’ll get around to doing “one day”? What bold move is waiting in the wings for you that this could be the year for?

Knowing the power of when to stop wishing and start deciding will change your life in an instant. Because “when” is a funny idea, when you think about it. There are no guarantees regarding our time on the planet. The only real time we have is now. Today. This moment.

Here are 3 great questions to ask yourself when deciding the right time to do something:

What used to scare me?

Scared to speak up at work? Remember a meeting from last year. Was it safe to speak up then (even though perhaps you didn’t), now that you can see it in retrospect? Probably. The same is true now, plus you are even wiser and more experienced! Raise your important opinion or question, my friend.

How long have I been thinking about doing this, exactly?

Too inexperienced to start a side hustle or seek a job promotion? The fact it is on your mind is already an indicator you are probably somewhat ready. Hey — you’re not attempting brain surgery any time soon, are you? Your goal is likely to be far less of a stretch than you are building it up to be in your mind. Write down a list of at least five reasons why you are capable of doing it at this precise stage in your life.

I did this with a client last year who wanted to become a matchmaker as a side hustle. Her reasons? A great natural ability to match people. Proven success in introducing two happy couples (who would provide testimonials if she asked). A healthy network of people to connect. An ability to create a gorgeous website using her tech savviness. A decent amount of free time over evenings and weekends to dedicate to it.

Hmm… She sounds pretty ready to me, don’t you think?

Do this for yourself right now. The list might totally surprise you.

Could Imposter Syndrome be holding me back?

This is what we experience when we feel we don’t deserve our accomplishments. We feel we’ve fooled others into thinking we are capable and attribute our achievements to blind luck or good timing. Our inability to accept our gifts means that we feel like a fraud or an imposter—maybe even waiting to be exposed.

Most common in high-achieving, imposter syndrome not only prevents us from enjoying success, it also massively limits our current potential. Feeling non-deserving or worthy we turn down wonderful new opportunities. We don’t take control. We let creative ideas slip away instead of seizing them. Imposter syndrome is the killer of many “what-might-have-beens.”

The more important to our hearts the task before us, the greater resistance we feel toward pursuing it. So what if, instead of keeping us at a standstill, we let our fears be our guide, showing us the way forward right now? What if we allowed our fear not to act as a stop sign but as a light, illuminating the path before us and highlighting what we need to do next?

If you did that, what might come true for you a lot sooner than you think?

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