Some People Will Rain on Your Dreams
You can have the most amazing, revolutionary, creative idea and no matter how good it is, there is a guarantee almost as if by some unwritten law of the universe, that someone (and likely someone you know well) is going to poo on it.
Criticism is a sad aspect of human nature but some people are most comfortable putting others down & trying to keep them there. It can be absolutely crushing to the one on the receiving end, as well as their dreams. A lot of people never get far enough to see their ambitions take off because they succumb to the stress & pressure of what others might think of them. And for what? For striving to be better, to have more, to become something other than mediocre?
The most successful people in history have a very small set of things in common. One of those things is that they didn’t let the nay-sayers stop them from going forward and following their vision. They went forward. They made history.
Grab Opportunity…Or Create It
I’ve had some great successes in my life & have experienced more than many my age. Still, I’ve passed up more opportunities in my lifetime than I’ve ever followed through on – and the biggest reason is fear. A lot of times, it’s been fear of what someone else who’s close to me would think if I were to follow such a “dream”.
You may not make history by following a particular dream of yours but you should always follow through on it. Take what opportunities come to you. Make opportunities when they are scarce – instead of creating excuses.
Frozen from Fear of Criticism?
A while back, I realized that I had allowed myself to be a victim of fear. There were times when I froze instead of blazing ahead. That sounds pretty silly but it was true! It hurts when you have a vision, desire, idea or ambition but don’t have the faith & belief – or at least emotional support – of those who matter most to you. They might be jealous, envious or just plain calloused.
I’m not going to analyze the various reasons ‘why’ some people like to criticize & belittle those with vision, dreams & goals. It doesn’t matter. What is important is that you don’t fear such a reaction or let that stand in your way for one moment.
Just Do It!
You probably have a “bucket list” of things you hope for or want to do or accomplish in your life. Don’t wait until you’re terminally ill or only have a few short, golden years left to do them. Chances are, if you’re waiting for exactly the right time & situation, it will never magically appear. Whatever it is you have on your list, get serious about it. Plan it out. Turn the vision into a goal with a time frame. Then do it.
Don’t let anyone steal your dream.
Photo credit: Kathryn McCallum, some rights reserved.
