Procrastination worked for me.
The stress and pressure of knowing I had a 36 hour window, or less, to get a project done caused me clarity of mind and the ability to buckle down and narrow my focus, to a singular one, like nothing else. Methodical, slow and steady, doing my best; but, under the gun, the above all held within a rabbit's pace of hip-hoppity quickness; one-step, one-word, melding into the next.
Perhaps, putting yourself under that type of stress isn't good for your health. However, if your life depended on getting something done, you'd do it.
This all leads me to two thoughts:
A dream will always remain a dream if you do not put forth effort to bring that dream to reality. Even the desires of your heart, placed within you by God, Himself, will not go from your heart to materialization if you're not doing your best to walk in His ways and move forward, stepping out in faith, in pursuit of them.
It's not enough to dream. You must extrapolate out, write down and establish attainable goals;
I write this as much for you as for myself.
I need to write as if my life depended on it... because it does. The life I wish to live can only be brought to fruition if I'm writing, pushing through barriers, and making it happen; with God's guidance may our life goals be reached and come true. May we always dream, and when one dream is brought to life, may we dream again.
And, all this God-talk leads me to say you need Him.
Your earthly life and your eternal life are both dependent upon your belief in Jesus Christ and choosing Him as your personal Savior and Lord.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
How do you know which step to take next?
You don't. For life lived in your own power, under your own influence, with your own mind, heart and will, not given over to something greater than yourself, is not living. You only truly live when you die to self and rely on the One who created you; it's only His light that reveals the next step so you don't have to endure detours and miss-steps.
And, once your eyes have been unveiled to the Truth, when you know what you're good at and see clearly the gifts you've been given; when you know what your purpose is on this earth, it's time to step out in faith and follow Him.
The purpose to which we've all been called?
To use our gifts to "expand the tent pegs of His Kingdom" (Lindsay McPhail);
"May we all have a burning desire to rescue those who are following liars" (Clayton Jennings).
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).