So what happens if you take the challenge? Well, for the short term things don't get better. I'm sorry, but that's the truth. As a matter of fact they usually get worse - a lot worse, which means you are usually tested in all the areas that are the most frightening to you - the #1 test: What in the world are you doing?....everything is going haywire....aren't you supposed to be making progress?
Yes, this is actually progress, but it doesn't feel like it. Stay with it.
Following this is a lot easier than bucking it. What makes following it easier is that faith you have, which is strengthened and enhanced by your path. The interesting thing is that if you don't accept the challenge, or you don't complete it, or you fall short, your fulfillment and life satisfaction is sacrificed.
You will begin to wonder, "What in the world have I done?"
And you will eventually ask yourself, "Good grief, I've made a terrible mistake. I should turn around now and give up everything and just not try any more."
In one word: DON'T
Remember Churchill: "Never, never, never give up."
Yada, yada, yada - Churchill was from another time and era, things are different today.
No they aren't! It is the people who stick to their guns; who stay by their convictions; who hold their dreams closely and don't let go are the fulfilled and satisfied.
Look at it this way: You have something to offer; something unique and different that has never been seen in this world. If you don't hold on to your convictions and dreams, the world will miss your dreams that you will pass on. That sounds really ethereal, but let's put that into practice. What would have happened had Lee Iaccoca not held onto his dreams, we wouldn't have the Ford Mustang today. Had Churchill not held onto his convictions we very well probably wouldn't have had Brittan today (and some wonder if that would include the US). Had Sam Walton not held onto his dreams we wouldn't have had Wal-Mart today and all of us would have been paying a whole lot more for everything!!!
The other thing to remember here is that not only would we not have the magic of your dreams coming true, but you would miss out on that magic, which is probably more important to you than to me! You wouldn't have ever had the chance to be a contenda! It is truly sad to fail, but to have never tried is much worse. Why? Because the result of never trying leads to a life of quiet desperation; a life in which each day takes away another part of you, instead of each day living your dream come true and your dream will come true if you stay with it.
The going is going to get tough, but hold onto your dreams and your convictions - this is where the prayers, blessings and quotes can help you. If you need repeat them every day. Write them out for 15 minutes a day - particularly one that means a lot to you. Start the day thinking about your dreams and your end goals - don't worry so much about how you're going to get there - it's the end goals that matter.
But whatever you do, don't give up your dreams.
You may need to rework parts of your dream - it's OK to change and refine your dreams as you go along. You will learn more about what you want as you go on - this is not giving up your dreams or having the world chisel away at your dreams - this is refining them. Maybe you've changed your mind about some of the dreams. That doesn't mean that you've given it up.
But following your dreams and seeing them to completion is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things you can do. (Here's one of my fav examples of holding onto your dreams.) Not only that it is very often a fabulous inspiration for those around you - your family, kids, parents, neighbors, piers and business associates. It may not necessarily involve adulation and praise and world-renown recognition, but you are nevertheless held up as a leader in your community/neighborhood/family.
The rewards so far out favor the misfortune and suffering, that even though the road is tough, it is worth the fight. Part of what makes this so confusing is that we aren't really sure how great the reward is and aren't really sure how horrible the misfortune is.
Your
dreams don't have to be curing cancer. They don't have to be to become
the greatest violinist of all time. They can be to be a good mom or
dad; to provide a good living for your family; to be admired and
respected by your piers. The important thing is that it is your
dream(s) that you are living and working for.
The journey and adventure is hard. Mine was and there were times when I wanted to give up. There were times when I think I did give up, but somehow kept the motions of keeping going. There were times when I thought all was folly, but the one thing that helped me through was my faith and realizing that I would forever regret not seeing this challenge through to the end....I would be a wannabe and that was worse than trying and failing.
But I guarantee you that your heart will be so filled with joy each and everyday, living your own dream, that it will be hard to contain your enthusiasm, energy, joyfulness and most of all your contagious demeanor. People will be asking you: what keeps you so young?....you look so good?....have you had some "work" done?....you've lost weight? Believe me, it will be down right confounding for them. There's nothing that makes a person more beautiful that fulfillment and satisfaction from the very heart and soul of a person!
The most important thing to remember is not to give up on your dreams.
Comments