Yesterday, I wrote about the often misunderstood sequence of ingredients that affect the cultivation of confidence. Today, I will expand on this idea in the context of pursuing your dreams.
Consider and REFLECT on these questions first:
- Who are you?
- What do you believe?
- Where have you been?
- Where are you currently?
- Where do you want to go?
- Based on where you want to go, how will your future self differ from your current self?
Now that you’ve put some thought to these questions , I will share with you one of my favorite quotes by one of my favorite people and bestest friends in the world:
The hardest part about following your dreams is you don’t have to…
Ethan R. Manilow
Every time I reflect on this wonderfully profound and succinct statement, I get goosebumps and experience a “momento mori” type of clarity.
YOU don’t have to…
Once you get really clear about the fact that there is no externally enforced deadline nor accountability to whether you live your life by design and in alignment with the part of you that has vision and can provide direction, you position yourself to better define and understand your intrinsic motivators. If you are motivated, you are more likely to be committed, and your commitments will be what actualize your dreams to come true.
Commitment is a statement of what ‘is’. You can know what you’re committed to by your results, not by what you say your commitments are. We are all committed. We are all producing results. The result is proof of a commitment.
Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Klemp
Remember, you cannot wait to become confident to act. You act and let confidence catch up. Similarly, you don’t wait for someone else to hold you accountable to your dreams. You act from a place of intentional ambition, and your dreams WILL start to take shape. Ironically, the good news is that they will NOT be fully formed overnight. This is good because it gives you time to observe their formation to gain feedback on how to course correct your actions and commitments in order for your dreams to come true in the ways you desire.
The easiest part about following your dreams is that your WHOLE BEING is emotionally invested. Now, let’s get to work…
