Have you ever thought about what legacy you want to leave not only for your children, but your grandchildren and so on? A legacy for them to look back and remember you for not only who you were but what you did? What kind of life do you want to leave when it comes to your time to go?
In one of my classes last week my teacher challenged our class with this very question. He showed a video which used analogy of a blank canvas representing our lives, and paint and a paint brush as the events of our life. At the end, he asked what we wanted our canvas to look like.
I'm gonna be honest, it really got me to thinking about my current life, and what legacy I want to leave. If you don't know yet, you'll find out soon that I have big dreams, and I don't want to leave this world without leaving my mark on the world. I don't want to leave without being sure that I was remembered for something. Something that made a difference in the world - no matter how small.
Take a moment and ask yourself if the life you're leading is the one you want to be remembered for. Then when you're done with that think about these questions: Are you working towards your dreams? Are you taking advantage of the opportunities you've been given such as education? Are you making use of the things you do have to their fullest extent?
Now, I know you're probably thinking "It's not as easy as all that". Well, what exactly is holding you back?
Lucille Ball, Frederick Douglass, Michael Jordan - those are three people whom we are all probably familiar with. Why? Because after rejection after rejection, they still finished what they set out to do- they lived their dream. Because when against all odds, they not only made the most of their situations, but thrived because they pressed through.
Everyone has a dream, can you deny that? Whether it's tucked deep down in your heart somewhere and it's too big that you keep it there, or it's right in the forefront of your mind, and you so desire to carry it out. What keeps you from going after your dream?
For me, there are several things that keep me in my comfort-zone and locked away in the "Emily haven". I think there are some main things that hold us back from being who we are called to be; what we were created to accomplish.
I think one is fear of rejection. Rejection is horrible.It's uncomfortable, it makes you feel worthless and like you never want to do something out of your comfort zone ever again. Whether you were a little girl who wasn't invited to that sleepover or that job that you just weren't qualified enough for.
I think we have to realize that everyone experiences rejection at one point or another throughout their life.
I think something else that holds many of us back is the fear of failure. You have a goal- an aim of what you want to do in your life, you get excited and think of ways to get to where you need to go, the picture is starting to form, you can play it all out in your mind, but then wait, the feelings of uneasiness start to settle in and the pessimistic you side starts creeping in your mind. "What if I fail?! I'll look stupid, and everyone will laugh in my face!"
So, you know that amazing place down the road where you can get the best white chocolate mocha latte of your life called Starbucks? That place that has over 21,000 locations internationally? Well, that place wouldn't be serving all the happy customers it does today if it weren't for the persistent Howard Schultz who, by the way, after trying not once not twice, but about 223 times got funding for his dream...his vision.
Guys, I'm afraid of failing too. I could either stay in the mode of not making a move towards my goal in complete fear of the unknowns(or failure) or I can be that Howard Schultz who simply viewed his "failure" as a stepping stone.
So I have a question, have you ever felt like you're just not good enough to go after your dream? Almost like having the mindset "Who do I think I am? I couldn't ever do that." Well guess what? You're entitled to go after that thing you want just as much as anyone else. You have to remember that everyone who is now famous was once like you who made the decision that they weren't going to be bound. The decision lies in your hands. You were created to do that very thing you have a vision for. Not everyone holds the same dream you do- which makes it perfectly unique to you. You have a place in this world...don't leave that place void.
Hey, I'm still learning these things, and I'm working on focusing on what I need to do to get to where I want to be. For me, I tend to get all excited and powered up for something, then get the biggest wave of discouragement soon after, and every negative thought and all doubts swarm my mind. I'm not by any means where I want to be yet, but I'm trying and that's all that matters. No one can ever find fault with you for trying. Take the steps...first the small steps, then the big steps.
I don't know about you, but I want my canvas to be painted all the colors of the rainbow, and then some.
“What if I Fall? Oh, but my darling what if you fly?”
~Erin Hanson
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