BIG
Why is it that so many of us have achievable dreams and
aspirations for our future yet we fail to take the necessary
steps in order to make those imaginings our reality? Are you one
of those people? What about the ever-popular New Year's
Resolution? Ever resolve to quit smoking and soon after you find
yourself still puffing away long after that particular New
Year's has come and gone? Afterward you bask in feelings of
disappointment and hopelessness because when you made that
resolution you really thought you could adhere to it. After all,
you meant to quit wholeheartedly when you said you would didn't
you? Let's face it, you assumed quitting was something you could
do otherwise you would never have made the declaration to quit,
am I right? Anything worthwhile does not come easily. There will
always be some price to pay.
Whenever I make a promise to myself and I fall short I get
dreadfully embarrassed to MYSELF. I feel ashamed that I let
MYSELF down. I am the one that I must impress first-and-foremost
before I ever attempt to astonish another. If I try to ignore
the task that I didn't complete in the first place, it eats away
at me until I end up tackling the deed in completion. I don't
know what type of behavior or mindset that is, but whatever it
is, it surely keeps me motivated and on the straight and narrow
in terms of meeting my objectives. It might take a minute for me
to get there, but what matters most is that I get there.
I have always been a "big dreamer" and just within the last
couple of years I've begun to act upon those dreams taking
needed steps to make them authentic. I believe that most of us
rarely do what we need to do rather we often do what we want to
do. People don't realize the necessity in suffering for the
short term to be happy in the long term. Let me explain. Until
recently, my credit score was not the greatest. In fact, when I
introduced myself to some people. I'd jokingly introduce myself
Ms. Mud. My credit score was so low it was not even ON the
scale. I think the lowest score is 500 isn't it? Well I'm not
exactly sure but whatever the lowest credit score is, mine was
profoundly below that. Anyway, I'm always coming up with these
self-proclaimed goals that I set for myself. If I go for a
period of time and I don't have something going on i.e., saving
for something, creating something, preparing for something,
exercising and challenging myself, or taking some class, or
course or ANYTHING to make me feel as though I am continually
progressing, it drives me wild! Actually, it does quite the
opposite and I get very gloomy and begin to feel as though I'm
merely existing as opposed to actively living. I'm always
conscious of my progressions and regressions in my life. Don't
ask me how or why I am this way, I just know that I am.
As I was saying, my credit score was crappy and I knew that I
needed to bring it up to a respectable number (one that I could
be pleased with). At the time I told myself that I needed to do
this in order to purchase property. So I sacrificed financially
(suffering for the short term), and in less than one year, I
brought my score up to a good number (being happy for the long
term). Some of those that knew I was making this sacrifice
mildly criticized me for doing it and suggested instead of
making larger payments to my creditors that I should make
smaller ones so that it wouldn't place me in such a financial
crunch. First of all, remember I created this goal for myself
and I knew if I made smaller payments that it would take longer
for me to reach my goal. It goes without saying that I
disregarded this particular persons suggestion to pay smaller
payments and I stayed on point and now reap the rewards of
having been diligent and consistent in my effort. In fact, I
just purchased a new car (and also those annoyingly long car
payments and outrageous insurance payments that go along with
new car ownership) a few weeks ago. (Even though I rarely drive
it because I work in New York and live in Jersey and because my
daughter or son seems to think that I purchased the car for them
because they drive it more that I do. What a lucky dogs.), but I
managed to buy the car just the same based on the fact that I
stayed on target and paid off my creditors. See? Just because
you see my name all over the Internet doesn't exclude me from
the same issues that you face. I am no different than anyone
else except I am ALWAYS motivated. I think what keeps me moving
is fear. Fear of being hungry, of being homeless or it could be
that I am a mover and shaker simply based on my own crave to
edify. But I am grateful that I am this way I tell ya that.
I think a lot of us fall short of reaching our goals because we
fail to properly plan to succeed. From the moment one says "I am
going to make a New Year's Resolution to quit smoking", should
be when they start to do mental planning in terms of what
sacrifices you're gonna make to help yourself quit therefore
reaching your goal. It goes without saying if you want to quit
smoking that you know you must go through withdrawal. So what.
If you can go one day without smoking, it really can be done. I
should know. I smoked for ten years and I quit. It was
difficult, but I did it! But unfortunately, most of us don't
properly plan hence we fail. But try, try again you must! Never
let another person's opinion of you or their opinions of your
failed efforts dissuade you from consistently trying to clench
your goal. A person's impression of you should never matter more
than the impression you have of yourself. EVER!! Otherwise, you
are headed for inevitable doom.
I remember about fifteen years or so ago, I was dating this guy.
We'll call him Peter. Peter and I were in love, or at least I
was in love with Peter. During this time I was trying to attempt
to spread my wings at writing poetry and unfortunately I felt
that I needed validating from someone else before I deemed my
work "good enough".
As ironic as it sounds to me now, each night for weeks I'd write
this wonderful poetry that I dedicated to Peter. I thought it
was pretty good that is until I gave it to him to peruse. I'd
pour my heart out to this guy in my poems. I wrote about how he
was the meaning of my smile and a host of other lovers jargon. I
found out later that Pete was jealous of my work because he knew
that I had talent and he also knew that I valued his opinion. If
he told me it was garbage, he knew that I'd believe it to be so.
Well, I wasn't entirely sure what Pete's issue was (and at this
point in my life WHO CARES?), but whenever I'd give him a piece
of my work to read, he'd read it, and hand it back to me without
giving me the benefit of a comment one way or another. Well it
didn't take me too long to conclude that Pete was the wrong
person to critique my work as well as the wrong person for me. I
decided to submit a few of my pieces to see if they could get
published (I felt that my work was well written and decided to
take a chance), and lo and behold two of my poems were
published! The power of believing in self is amazing. I have the
two books that house my work on my bookshelves today. Every now
and again I'll pull them down and take a gander. I feel very
proud of myself for those accomplishments based entirely upon
the scenario with Peter that prompted me to submit at all.
We must dream BIG and think equally as BIG in this life.
Position our minds to accomplish that which is seemingly
unattainable to the naked eye. Our body and spirit will follow
the passageway that our psyche has created. Self-fulfilling
prophecy it's called. The difference between those that reach
their goals and those that fall short, is the ones that
accomplish their goals already knew that they could and they
behaved as though their prize was already attained. Those that
fail to reach their ambition never envisioned their goal as
being a reality thus, they never truly BELIEVED that their goals
were achievable in the first place.
We must get in a comfort zone mirroring the talk of those that
have claimed success. We also need to familiarize ourselves with
the strut that is mimicked by those who are triumphant in
authenticating their dreams. Each of us will be no bigger
tomorrow than the realities we create for ourselves today. The
prospect for success is only postponed by the way YOU view YOUR
victories. Your likelihood for accomplishment can be limitless
if you'll just think BIG. Everything is a mindset and BIG
is........as BIG does. What've you got to loose? Might as well
think BIG. Or would you rather think small? You know what?
Thinking small doesn't even look right in print nor does it
sound right. Tell ya what. You choose. Me? I'm thinking BIG.
@2005 by C. V. Harris. All rights reserved.