Learn to Seize the Moment and Unlock Your Full Potential

Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Carpe diem,” or seize the day, but you can unlock so much more of your potential by seizing the moment. A full day comprises many moments that people take for granted.

So what does seizing the moment mean? Well, it means that you are aware of life’s opportunities at any given moment and willing to take them whenever and wherever they present themselves. You never know where those opportunities may lead, and what they could unlock for your life. How you seize the moment is up to you, but don’t let fear hold you back.

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.” ― Nora Roberts

The big actions can be scary and overwhelming, but those don’t always have to be our first steps. Sometimes, the simplest actions have the power to make us happier and more fulfilled. The action of seizing a moment is much simpler than seizing an entire day. Looking and being grateful for these moments can have a profound impact on your day, and really your life!

So what moments should you seize and what does the action of seizing a moment look like?

Gratitude and seizable moments

Each moment of your day is an opportunity to do something or to do nothing. The choice is yours, but the impact of your decisions in these moments can have long-lasting effects. It can be hard distinguishing between this moment and the right moment. What if the timing is off, and you should wait? It’s those “what ifs” that will get us every time; so start small.

That moment when you first open your eyes is one of the best moments of the day. It means you are alive and there will be opportunities that surround you. Relish in that for a bit and be grateful that you have the chance to live another day.

Gratitude is a great way to live in the moment and not miss the little things. Society teaches us that there is always more we could get or achieve, and while pushing yourself can be a good thing, you need to take a moment to be thankful for the things, relationships, and opportunities you have.

Gratitude releases dopamine, and according to Linda Roszak Burton, “Whether expressing gratitude for what’s good in life or showing gratitude to someone who has helped us at work, the neural circuitry in our brain (stem) releases dopamine. Dopamine makes us feel good! And, because it feels good, we want more. It triggers positive emotions, we feel optimistic, and it fosters camaraderie.”

This dose of positivity, optimism, and camaraderie might open a door to an opportunity you had never considered before. Where could your dreams take you if you looked at the moments in your life with more positivity and optimism?

You would likely respond to opportunities with less of a “What if this those goes wrong?” response and more of a “What if this works?” response. Imagine how much that alone would unlock your potential? Everything that is presented or proposed to you is a seizable moment.

“Forget yesterday—it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow—you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift—today.” ― Steve Maraboli

Opportunistic moments you should seize

I had been writing for Medium for a month and in that first month; I made $9. I sobbed like I had won the lottery because for the first time since high school someone had paid me to write. It felt like I was on the way to pulling myself from the confines of a business-focused job and doing what I love. I learned about a platform called Upwork from someone else’s medium article. It was an opportunity for freelancers to find clients, and apparently, there were a ton of jobs for writers on there! I remember thinking:

• What if I don’t have time for a client because of work?
• What if no one hires me?
• What if someone hires me and then tells me I am a terrible writer?

Thoughts like these are normal when we decide to seize the moment and try something new. The trick is to try something new, anyway. Reframe the questions in your mind:

• What if I have so many clients, that I don’t have time to work for someone else?
• What if so many people want to hire me, and I can work from home?
• What if someone hires me and tells me how powerful my writing is and continues to help me grow?

I seized that moment and signed up and started applying. I was brand new on there and had no real writing experience, other than my blogs on Medium. Then I came across a job for writing quote articles, and that one moment changed my life.

That one moment connected me to a person who believed that my story about my traumatic childhood and life struggles could help inspire others. He saw more potential in me than I did at that moment, and that job turned into an opportunity for me to write so much more. It also helped me get other clients, and I was able to leave my job and pursue writing full time.

Whatever your dream is, whatever goal you are working toward, it is built in the moments you choose to live in. Those moments you are brave enough to reach out and grab onto with both hands. If it isn’t the right moment you will know, but you won’t know unless you try.

“Among the map makers of each generation are the risk-takers, those who see the opportunities, seize the moment and expand man’s vision of the future.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Expand your future by reaching your potential

When you search for these moments with a positive attitude, you will find they appear more frequently than you thought! Once you are in a place where you are open to seizing the moments life presents to you, you will able to unlock your full potential. According to Grant Cardone, these four changes will help set you on the right path:

• Write down your goals
• Choose things just out of reach
• Take massive action
• Stay persistent

What would your goals look like right now if you wrote them down? What moments would you be looking to seize? What is something that is just out of reach, that would make you feel successful?

For me, that was being able to quit my job and become a writer and content creator. I couldn’t fathom it when I started this journey, but once I knew that was what I wanted, it only took me about 6-8 months to achieve. Now, I daydream about selling the book I am writing. Taking the steps to finish that book and pitch it to a publisher is a giant leap but it will get me there someday!

Those are big things that will require “massive action.” There will also likely be some rejections and roadblocks, but with persistence, the right moment will find me. When it does, I will be there to reach out and hold it in the palm of my hand.

Will you seize the next moment that aligns with your goals and puts you on a path to unlock your potential? I hope so! Each of us deserves to live our life to the fullest extent that we are able. You never know what your full potential might mean to someone else.

Had my first client not seized his own moments and started a website where inspirational and educational content had a home on the internet, would I be here at this moment? Who is out there waiting on you to reach your potential so you can help them meet theirs? Life is one big circle of moments and we are all connected.

So by all means seize the day, the whole thing, and all the moments that make up a day in your life. Be brave, and take a few risks. Your future self will thank you someday! Your courageousness might be the spark someone else uses to ignite their own flame. To inspire and help someone else is the greatest hope for my potential, and what a magical moment that will be.

“In playing ball, and in life, a person occasionally gets the opportunity to do something great. When that time comes, only two things matter: being prepared to seize the moment and having the courage to take your best swing.” ― Hank Aaron

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