What are your goals? Have you set any? Do you have a bucket list? Have you started marking things off? Do dislike anything in your life? Have you made steps to change your circumstances?

Many people would answer no to most of those questions. Why? If you don’t do the work, you won’t get the prize. It is that simple. But what holds us back? Insecurities, low self-esteem, and FEAR. 

 Fear isn’t exclusive to certain people, age bracket, sex, religion, or anything else. It is universal. How you handle it determines where you will go in your life.

 Think on this, if Einstein never started his experiments because of the fear of failure, where would we be today? Do you know how many times he failed before he succeeded? And his words, are perfect! “Failure is success in progress.” Wow! So very true. But think a bit further – do you think he got frustrated? How about depressed? Do you think he had fears? OF COURSE! It is human nature. It is how he handled those feelings that mattered. He was determined to succeed.

 So, what is holding you back? Are you making excuses for the things you believe you can’t do? “I can’t” won’t get you where you want to go. Blaming others won’t get you where you want to go. Making excuses won’t get you where you want to go.

 Are you ready to make some changes in your life? Let me tell you a story…

There once was a girl, yes a real girl. Her name was Joni. She is the youngest of four and was a very active kid. She loved being outdoors – hiking, riding horses, playing tennis, and swimming. When she was 17, she dove into the bay, not realizing how shallow it was and broke her spine, making her a quadriplegic – paralyzed from the shoulders down.  Let’s stop there for a second and think. 17. Quadriplegic. What would be your first thoughts? I think mine would be, “my life is over.” I’m sure Joni had those thoughts and a lot more darker ones too, BUT she didn’t let excuses be the guide to her life. Let’s continue. While she was in physical therapy, she learned to paint with a paint brush in her teeth. I don’t know how she does it, but she is GOOD. She began selling her artwork. Writing and journaling are part of the healing process for many. She used that and began writing books. She is a force to be reckoned with. Nothing can stop this woman. Why are you letting things get in your way?

   Recommended reading: https://www.joniandfriends.org/

Do you need more inspiration? Meet Fatemeh Hammami Nasrabadi. She is the second born twin of parents in Iran. When she was born, the doctors told her mother that she had been deprived of oxygen while in utero. She is 85% paralyzed. As she grew, she began doing things with her feet that most people did with their hands and with a strong family guiding her, she went to school. Imagine how she was treated? How that made her feel? People are cruel when something doesn’t fit their mold of “normal.” Fatemeh fell in love with art and with the help of her mentor began drawing. She uses pencil, pen, ink, and watercolors to create beautiful works of art from portraits to animals to scenery. Not yet 30 she has thousands of followers on Instagram and has drawn many famous people.  

   Recommended reading: https://www.inspiremore.com/fatemeh-hammami-nasrabadi-art/

 Right now, stop what you are doing, and write down what you want out of life. Write down your goals, your dreams, your bucket list. Write! Now, take that list (or those lists) and tape to the refrigerator. I want you to look at it every time you open the refrigerator. Where are you? Have you made steps forward? Have you crossed one off? 

 Make the decision today to check off one of your goals every month and then do what it takes to make it a reality.

 

Blessings – E