Making big changes and chasing dreams is hard work. It’s actually easier to coast through a “good enough” life. The problem is that we only get one life to live, and living a life of regret shouldn’t be YOUR option.

Too often, we think all the stars have to align before we can chase our true passion. We think that we have to be at a certain point, or that the circumstances have to be just right. We are constantly waiting for permission.

For 12 years I waited for permission to lose weight, quit a job I hated and move our family from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to our dream destination of Maui, Hawaii. The time I waited for permission sucked the life out of me.
In 2011, I realized that permission would never come, and if I wanted anything to happen, I was going to have to be the one to make it happen on my own. I had to take action.

It took three years and more of me than I thought was possible, but I lost 170 pounds, quit a terrible job, and moved our family to Maui, Hawaii. We’ve been here for 10 months and it’s far surpassed our expectations. I learned to stop waiting and start living.

We wait and wait, and those perfect circumstances never fall into place. Before we know it, life has already passed us by. We wait for approval from people who think they have our best interest at heart—we’re crushed when it never comes. We miss the amazing life that could be ours while we wait for permission.

Here are four reasons why we need to stop waiting for permission and chase dreams that too many people consider “impossible.”

1. We already know what it takes to achieve success

In the past, information was hard to come by—it wasn’t cost effective either. Today, the Internet and social media have made information abundant and free. No longer do we have to wait to learn what it takes to achieve our success. YouTube alone has more answers than we’ll be able to comprehend and implement.

If there’s anything you want to learn, the information is readily available. We don’t have to wait for permission or knowledge; we can research and take action. We can be the master of our destiny and create our own success.

2. We have amazing tools and technology

Remember how hard it was to get a book published a few years ago?

Remember when you had to send checks and money orders for payment for products and services?

Today, we can self-publish a book in minutes.

Today, we have Paypal and Stripe to take payments online instantly.

Social media and the Internet have opened doors that were previously closed by gatekeepers. We don’t have to wait. We can figure out exactly what we need to make progress from the comfort of our home.

3. We can have a solid support system

In the past, we tried to prove we could do this alone. We tried to chase big dreams and success, and pick ourselves up when things didn’t go as planned. Reaching out for help was considered a sign of weakness.

Today, we can have support in many ways and it’s considered a smart thing to do. Whether it’s family or a close friend, you can have that shoulder to cry on when things don’t go as planned.

Today, we can join or form mastermind groups that give us accountability and support with fellow dream chasers who are all over the world. We don’t have to do this all alone.

4. Life is too damn short

At the end of your life you’ll regret trying to play it safe. You won’t remember all the stuff you had; you’ll remember your experiences. Those experiences will be filled with amazing moments or things you regret.

When you wait for permission, you squander your most precious resource: your time.

My father died unexpectedly at 54. The two weeks before he died all he could talk about were his regrets. He’s gone now. He died too young and unable to do something about the things he regretted in his life.

It doesn’t have to take a death in your life for you to realize how quickly life goes by. You can probably remember what seemed like yesterday, but was years ago. Life is short. We only get one chance to make it count.

Here’s the biggest thing to understand: no one will ever give you permission. Your doubt and fear will never give you permission. If you’re going to experience success in your life, you have to step outside of your comfort zone and take action.

It’s going to be hard. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to be harder than seems necessary, but your dream is possible. More than that, once you reach your success, you’ll realize the struggle was worth it.

Stop waiting to claim the life you truly deserve. The stars will never be perfectly aligned, but that’s OK. This is your journey and the bumps and bruise make it special. They teach you to appreciate what you have.

Are you waiting for permission?