You know what you would love to do with your life and why.
I had mentioned in an earlier blog that before committing to your dream it is important to put it to test, in other words, to test your resolve. I had several people, including some of my clients, asking me to clarify this aspect: Why is testing our resolve so important right at the beginning of the journey?
Well, quite simply because our resolve, our determination, is the fuel we need to see us through until our dreams take off and long after.
There are always challenges on the road to fulfilling our dreams and you must be prepared to face them. Even before embarking on the journey you will be assaulted by a myriad of discouraging thoughts.
“It’s impossible!” Your mind will say. “It’s too difficult! I am simply not capable, not smart enough, not strong enough, not young enough…not old enough…I am simply not good enough!”
Doubts and reservations will jump in to try to persuade you to give up, for your own good. After all, you don’t want to suffer the humiliation of failing. The status quo is safe. Trusted and tested. Uncomfortable, maybe. But safe, nevertheless. Not trying to follow your dream means you will still have an excuse to cling on to. You can ease your pain with whispers like… “I could have been a…”, “Who knows, one day …”
But once you decide to try…well, then there is no excuse. You will be exposed. You are on your own. There is nowhere to hide.
So…You need to be clear which path you’d rather be on:
Continue with life as it is and keep your dream as a backup escape plan, as a soothing medicine in times of trial. Many people do this. Realists do this. Everyone does it. You are in good company.
Or put all your energy, focus and heart into achieving your dream and accept the responsibilities and challenges that come with it. Fools and adventurers do this. Pioneers and revolutionaries do this. Very few people do this. You are in select company.
To decide, ask yourself this question:
How will my life be if I don’t follow my dream?
Your answer to this question will give you the measure of your commitment to your dream and your determination – or lack of it – to make the necessary sacrifices and see it through.
Stay with this question until your answer becomes clear. Dig deep.
Ask yourself: How will I feel? What will I tell myself if I don’t do this?
If the very thought of not following through with your dream is unbearable, then you know you have no other choice but to start working on it.
But if, on balance, you realise that your life, as it is, is not too bad after all, then that in itself would have been a great discovery!
Remember it is important to treat yourself with respect and compassion. And to continue to enjoy being you…no matter what!
