"Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream." Lao Tzu
In this modern day it's easy to get lost among the busy forest of information, and be misguided by the trappings of material desire. As we grow, and learn, and experience more of this journey we call life we are confronted with more situations, and problems that we must solve. Tests if you will. Tests that will try our moral, physical, mental, and spiritual constitution. As we progress from one trial to another our experiences, be they successes or failures, generate a certain pattern that we base our beliefs off of, and around. It is from these beliefs that fear is generated. Fear is a choking essence that stunts our growth, and inhibits our success. Fear doesn't always have to be of, or come from failure. Fear can take many forms including fear of success. Perhaps even fear of change.
" Why should I audition for this gig? There are other more talented people here, more so than I." You may ask yourself, but I say why not?!
The only limitations we have are the ones we impose upon ourselves! How dare you judge yourself so low without even trying. Don't let fear cloud your mind, but see clearly the truth in the situation. In this example above, the truth is Opportunity. Either to perform or to learn.
If you were to succeed and get the gig, you'll walk away with a wonderful chance to perform for a gig that you worked hard to achieve. A success.
If you do not get the gig, it's not a failure. It's a learning opportunity. A chance to see where your faults are, and then improve upon them! I guarantee you won't make those same mistakes again. Also a success.
There is no failure in either outcome of the above hypothetical situation, and like wise, there is no need to fear any outcome you may encounter in life- personal, or professional. There is always something good, something to be learned, something to be used to grow from in every situation you are placed into. Nothing happens without a reason. True, sometimes we must look harder than others for the reason, but the reason is there.
FDR said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." How true is this! Why limit ourselves unnecessarily by succumbing to fear? Don't let fear hold you back from learning a routine, performing for a venue, meeting someone who inspires you, or networking with important contacts. I understand the mentality of What if I fail?, but I must impress upon you the alternative to consider. What if you don't?
In closing I'll leave you with the words of Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love. The poem is titled Our Deepest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
In this modern day it's easy to get lost among the busy forest of information, and be misguided by the trappings of material desire. As we grow, and learn, and experience more of this journey we call life we are confronted with more situations, and problems that we must solve. Tests if you will. Tests that will try our moral, physical, mental, and spiritual constitution. As we progress from one trial to another our experiences, be they successes or failures, generate a certain pattern that we base our beliefs off of, and around. It is from these beliefs that fear is generated. Fear is a choking essence that stunts our growth, and inhibits our success. Fear doesn't always have to be of, or come from failure. Fear can take many forms including fear of success. Perhaps even fear of change.
" Why should I audition for this gig? There are other more talented people here, more so than I." You may ask yourself, but I say why not?!
The only limitations we have are the ones we impose upon ourselves! How dare you judge yourself so low without even trying. Don't let fear cloud your mind, but see clearly the truth in the situation. In this example above, the truth is Opportunity. Either to perform or to learn.
If you were to succeed and get the gig, you'll walk away with a wonderful chance to perform for a gig that you worked hard to achieve. A success.
If you do not get the gig, it's not a failure. It's a learning opportunity. A chance to see where your faults are, and then improve upon them! I guarantee you won't make those same mistakes again. Also a success.
There is no failure in either outcome of the above hypothetical situation, and like wise, there is no need to fear any outcome you may encounter in life- personal, or professional. There is always something good, something to be learned, something to be used to grow from in every situation you are placed into. Nothing happens without a reason. True, sometimes we must look harder than others for the reason, but the reason is there.
FDR said "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." How true is this! Why limit ourselves unnecessarily by succumbing to fear? Don't let fear hold you back from learning a routine, performing for a venue, meeting someone who inspires you, or networking with important contacts. I understand the mentality of What if I fail?, but I must impress upon you the alternative to consider. What if you don't?
In closing I'll leave you with the words of Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love. The poem is titled Our Deepest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
