5 Reasons to ‘Wake Up’ and ‘Dream’ BIGGER Dreams
Everyone loves a good motivational story. Well… maybe not everyone. But if you navigated to my blog out of the millions that exist, I assume our interests collide and that like myself you believe in the power of our stories. I am a firm believer that by sharing stories we can inspire others and unknowingly change the world!
The story of Wilma Rudolph the 1960 Olympic triple Gold medal winner is a powerful one. She beat severe polio in her leg and rose from being as a bedridden child to become one of the most decorated female track stars in history! Wilma had more than enough reasons not to succeed, epecially in competitive sports for the able-bodied. However, she defied the odds. What made her do it?
Wilma had a strong belief in her dream, that she could run just like the other children. Like her we must throw away the ‘crutches and braces’ of regret, self-pity, doubt and all their cousins. If we don’t we will ‘hobble’ through life.
Throughout my journey, I have learned many lessons which have driven me to surpass what I thought was possible. Napoleon Hill in his classical book, ‘Think and Grow Rich’ remarked that:
“The starting point of all achievement is desire.”
Let me ask you five questions:
- What are your deepest desires?
- What does your own vision of success look like?
- When are you most happy?
- Are you satisfied with your life?
- Do you have what it takes to make a change?
Do you want a nice home, more money, a flashy car, to end world hunger?
# 1 Everything starts with an idea
No matter what your desire may be, nothing exists before an idea and all ideas originate in the mind. Therefore we have to agree with Theodore Roosevelt that:
“We have all that we need to create what we want because all the resources we need are in our minds”.
Yeah, yeah. I hear you saying I don’t have the money, I don’t have the education. I don’t have the connections…. and the list is unending. However, the solution to any identified gap is also in the mind. All the resources you need are available.
Wise words from Napoleon Hill
# 2 There is never a perfect time
You will never be rich enough, pretty enough and perfectly ready to do what you dream of. Waiting on the perfect time is a sure way to do nothing. It keeps us busy getting ready for the perfect time. This is an illusion. It will never come. Start where you are right now. If you just start and take one single step every day in the direction of your dream, you will get there. Perfection is a flaw. It is the enemy of excellence and it is seriously allergic to creativity.
# 3 Feel the fear and do it anyway
It is natural to feel fear, anxiety, doubt and see all the roadblocks when a new idea or opportunity is considered. This makes us human. Accept these feelings as a natural part of the landscape in building your dream. If you are not willing to be uncomfortable you will not grow. Do not allow fear to immobilise you. Feel the fear but take the riding lesson anyway. Nothing would be accomplished if all fear had to be overcome before taking the first step.
# 4 You still miss every shot you refuse to take
Some persons can boast that they had never failed at anything. The simple reason is that they never did anything. If you don’t take a shot at an opportunity it is worse than taking the shot and missing. Every shot you miss is practise. You are much better prepared to take the next shot. Michael Jordon said:
‘I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Decide to take the shot!’
# 5 Set the date and ‘Just do it’
If you do not set a date to get something done you are not serious. What do you want to accomplish? I want to weight 145 pounds by December 31, 2015 midnight. Anyone can show up and check if you achieved it. I will begin exercising at 6:30am on Wednesday morning May 27, 2015. Why are we so afraid to set the date? I think we don’t want anyone or ourselves to hold us accountable. It’s much easier to say ‘when I get around to it’ ‘when I have more time’ ‘when I buy some new gym clothes’ and the list of some unknown time in the future is unending. Stop making excuses, wake up and like Nike:
‘Just do it!’
We simply have no excuse but to be great!
If you liked this article you may want to read my book ‘On Seraph Wings: Memoirs of a Country Girl. Like Wilma Rudolph, I too aim to sprint to greatness through the #JAeBookSprint Campaign. It’s just the Jamaican in me! To learn more visit my website or Facebook page.
Dream a bigger dream today.
Dr. Sandra Palmer, International Motivational Speaker, Life and Business Coach, Author
sandra@drsandrapalmer.guru
Follow Nike’s advice.