Perhaps the greatest message I can share and want to embed in your mind is the truth that Whatever it is you have been wanting and waiting to do, please consider doing it soon.
You have waited long enough, and you have told yourself that you are someone who strives to live with purpose and goals and vision, so since that is your resolve, allow me to push you once again to leave your place of fear and start running down your path.
With that overall theme in mind, here are three ideas that I believe will motivate, sustain and fuel your future:
- You do not need to fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.
- Right now, you’re the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.
- People with purpose, goals, and vision have no time for drama. They invest their energy in creativity and focus on living a positive life.
From where I stand, these three ideas complement each other in such a way that flows with positivity when it comes to understanding the choices you are making daily. These are the reflection of your future for good…or not so good. You choose.
I so believe this truth is valid for your life that “You do not need to fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” (unknown)
Seriously, can you imagine being in the same place next year that you are right now? I hope not. Let me make that stronger, you better not be…because if you are not growing, you are dying–albeit slowly. And maybe not to be seen by others, but, friend, if you are not growing personally, you are giving in to the broken theory that life offers little to nothing. You have accepted the sly, insipid lie that going with the flow is fine instead of taking and making a stand for a better life, a better career, a better and bigger opportunity to be who you were born to be and not to settle for who you are right now.
The truth is that change is hard, change is scary and change is lonely. From what I have learned in life, when you really believe you were made for more, rare is the friend or family member who understands the fire that burns in your soul to break free from the mundane life you are currently living. Yes, I know others are happy enough with their lot in life, but not you. You have so much more inside you, and if you are not careful, that fire will burn out and a year or two later all you will have are charred memories of what you were going to do, who you were going to be and where you were going in life.
So, choose wisely. Stop allowing fear to dictate your future as it has your past, because, friend, you do not need to fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.
In your life loss, if there is a sliver of good news it is that, due to your age and a lifetime of missed opportunities, you will be a great cheerleader for the next generation. But that is all you will be because you never took the next step to be an explorer, a founder or a maker. Sadly, I can’t think of anything worse for you than watching from the sidelines others, who were nowhere near as capable as you, who are willing to make bold moves to change their situation.
I don’t know who said it, but the quote, “Live your life. Take chances. Be crazy. Don’t wait. Right now, is the oldest you’ve ever been and the youngest you’ll ever be again.” is right on target.
Friend, for years now I have been telling you that you don’t have time to waste, your days are numbered, so what are you waiting for? I know you’re probably saying, I need more money, I need more time, I need more support, I need… I am sure you have a few valid needs, but the truth is that most of them are based on fear of the unknown.
The problem with your overriding fear is that you really don’t know what will happen; the truth is you’re making an “un-educated guess” about your future. But your speculation is the problem you have created by allowing yourself to be in the exact same place next year as you are today. If that is the case, well, then you have diminished your options based on unproven fears. The wild idea of living your life, taking chances and being crazy isn’t going to fly if you are unwilling to unfurl your wings and try. Nope, you’ll just be sitting in the same cubicle next year as you are today with only a new calendar on your wall reminding you that you are trapped.
I hear you, and I feel your pain because it is scary to take chances and be crazy at this age in life. By now aren’t you supposed to have it all together? Well, outwardly many do, and for most people, it is enough. The golden handcuffs are worth the price of their chosen misery. That’s impressive, said no one ever.
Listen, because of my work, I run in big dog circles, and I often work with the mighty in all their splendor with their wealth, fame and recognition. As a private speech coach, I see that beneath the veneer, more often than not, the decisions they made long ago have them tied tightly to the circus they committed to. In their private offices, away from the boardroom, I see the photos behind the desk. Dreams deferred with the hope of one day being able to make them come true before they age out, or become sick or lose their fragile family due to the hours of work, company-required travel, after-hours meetings and monotonous client dinners. Every day they weighed the truth that right now is the youngest they will ever be.
While I cannot speak for them, and frankly they can’t say it out loud, I have a very strong suspicion that if they could tell you their advice for an amazing life, they would say, Live your life. Take chances. Be crazy. Don’t wait.
This brings me to my final point, and that is a truth that can set you free to explore and define your life’s calling because, “People with purpose, goals, and vision have no time for drama–they invest their energy in creativity and focus on living a positive life.” (unknown)
The most successful people that I know follow this one principle—they focus on living a positive life.
The famous quote still is true, “You cannot have a positive life with a negative mouth.” What you say to yourself and others is a reflection of who you are and who you want to be. Being positive is more than a feel-good motivational speaker’s mantra; if you are wise, it is the plugged-in power source of your life’s success.
All your life you have been told to get going on your purpose, goals and vision and to stop wasting time on those who say mean things behind your back. Remember, they are behind you for a reason, and that reason is that they never invested their energy in creativity or their focus on living a positive life. They just extract the joy out of yours because you’ve allowed them to have a say in your life instead of tossing them to the curb with the others who can’t say or think of anything positive to contribute.
We all say we don’t like drama in our lives, and yet we see our friends and family jump into any mix-up they can to stir the pot. The worst ones are those who start the fire and then step back watching everything burn acting like they know nothing about the blaze they set. Those people are the ones who have not invested their energy for good but for evil. I know that is a hard word, but as your friend, hear me, walk away from them before they burn you to a crisp while they hold the fire extinguisher.
It is beyond my comprehension that someone would not choose to invest their energy in creativity and focus on living a positive life, but we see it daily, so be wise and find a new path to follow away from the made-up drama that keeps you in other people’s web of negativity.
Consider what you can do in your free time to think and sketch out your goals and dreams. You know I am all for you writing it down in a journal–just the courageous act of putting pen to paper to write a declaration of your independence for your future is life-changing. Next, dust off your library card or fire up your Kindle and start reading how others found their purpose and joy by being makers and creators. It is okay to follow in the path of others who are or have been successful in their lives and careers. That is wisdom and free-for-the-taking-knowledge if you will just take advantage of your given opportunities. Ah, friends, take chances, be crazy and don’t wait.
Every day–yes, every single day–you need to focus on living a positive life. It is not easy in such a negative world, but if you do not close out the noise of others, you are only hurting yourself. Drama-lamas don’t care about you–they only care about the mess they can make, and then they run away.
The truth is that you, like most of us, are surrounded by glass half empty people–sad sack, woe is me Eeyore types of people. To combat their arrows of negativity, pessimism and insecurities, put up your shield mighty warrior, and don’t let their attitude or arrows permeate your life. Fight back with the power of positivity, as it is the only weapon you have to win the battle for your amazing future.
I don’t usually encourage you to go to war, but, friend, so many of you are up against negative forces that seem to work overtime to belittle, hurt and offend you in every way and for no good reason other than to lift their up their sorry selves.
Today is the day you fight back.
I believe today’s message needs to be said because it is easy to think that all this happy, positive talk and living your life, taking chances and being a bit crazy (in a good way) applies only to others when it really does apply to you.
Sometimes in life you have to be your own hero for your amazing hopes, dreams and future, so don’t run from the battle. Stake your claim, own your power and invest in yourself to create the life you’ve imagined.
