You choose your path in life. Did you pick an easy hike? Did you try to find a route that had few or no obstacles? If the answer is yes, how do you like the journey so far? Are you bored out of your mind? Maybe you feel like you’re walking in circles, because the view never really changes.
You can change your path right now. You can opt for more treacherous terrain if you’re up for the challenge. The bigger the challenge, the greater the rewards. Would you like to travel along an interesting road that is sometimes laced with failure but leads to spectacular views, or would you rather take an easy path that leads nowhere? It’s completely up to you. You are the tour guide on this excursion.
Just remember, if you are not happy with where you are you have the power to alter your trip itinerary. Do you want to travel to new heights, or do you want to go nowhere?
DAY
195
“There seemed to be endless obstacles . . . it seemed that the root cause of them all was fear.”
— Joanna Field
You have been journaling about overcoming obstacles for the last several days. Obstacles do come up in life. That’s something you can count on. How many of them did you create yourself?
Some of the obstacles you face in life are just there. You didn’t put them there. They are a byproduct of living in an unpredictable world. Your challenge is to find a way to overcome them when you encounter them.
But what about the obstacles you create?
You may be thinking, “What? I don’t create obstacles. Why would I sabotage myself?”
Are you sure about that? You might be doubling the obstructions you face by creating obstacles that aren’t really there. Those obstacles are trickier to deal with, because they change shape. They get bigger when your fear grows, and they show up when you feel the most vulnerable. Those are also the obstacles that you have the power to obliterate completely. You don’t have to deal with them. You can zap them out of your life.
Look back at the list of obstacles you made in your journal several days ago. Take a close look at them and try to ascertain whether they are real or a fabrication you created in your mind. If you find out some of those obstacles are a product of your imagination, you can cross them right off your list. Zap their power. They can’t hurt you. You can walk right through them.
DAY
196
“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious . . . and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
— Walt Disney
It’s not very productive to look backwards. You can’t do anything about your past. On the other hand, you can do anything you want with your future. Walt Disney was a stunning example of success because he was always moving forward.
Curiosity is a great tool for moving forward, because it lacks judgment. You don’t ask if something is correct or perfect. You ask yourself questions like:
What does that do?
Where does that path lead?
What would happen if I do this?
What would that look like?
What if I looked at it this way?
I know what’s behind door number one. Now what’s behind door number two?
When was the last time you used the tool of curiosity to lead you toward success? Have you asked any of these questions or similar ones lately? Make time to be curious today. Don’t worry about past mistakes. They don’t matter anymore. Keep moving forward. You’ve got an endless supply of doors to open and paths to walk down.
DAY
197
“The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.”
— W. E. B. Du Bois
It’s hard to give up things. Watch any TV game show, and you will see people struggling with it. They can keep the one thousand dollars, or they can go for the big money. What will it be? They sweat and stammer and look back at their loved ones in the audience for guidance. Gosh, a thousand dollars would be nice, but I could become a millionaire if I let go of this cash and take one more risk!
You have to be ready to give up things if you want to make progress. It’s like taking a trip. You can’t bring your entire closet full of clothes with you when you go on vacation. Just take what you need and leave the rest. It’s a good rule to go by on your journey toward success, too. You don’t have to take everything with you. You don’t need it all. There are items that make up what you are today that you can leave behind to make room for what you might become.
What are some of the things you can give up? Well, you certainly have no need for fear. Leave that at home. What about the beliefs you have about yourself that are no longer true? Those are great things to ditch, and your load will be much lighter. Maybe you used to think you were not smart, but recent experience has taught you otherwise. Drop that old belief. Did you use to think you weren’t worthy of success? Well, that’s completely untrue now. Give up that dusty old thing and make room for your new image. Write about what you are willing to give up today for what you might become.
DAY
198
“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes
Steven had an ultimate goal in mind, and when he made it to that spot, to that X on the map he had drawn for himself, he would consider himself a success. He did make it to the X, and he stood there admiring his achievements with a grand feeling of satisfaction. Steven had a great job, a huge house, and three sports cars in the garage. That was his goal, and he achieved it.
Now what?
The one thing Steven didn’t learn on his journey to achieve his dreams was that it doesn’t matter where he stands today. What matters is the direction he is moving. The game isn’t over until you’re six feet under. He will be faced with the same question today as he was yesterday: what are you doing to move forward in life?
The truth is you are not striving for a gold star or a first place ribbon. You are looking for the fulfillment that comes every day when you learn something new or help another individual on their journey or triumph over an obstacle that stands in your way. Knowledge and love and compassion are signs of success, not obtaining the coolest toys on the block. Material things are nice, but personal fulfillment is even better.
Are you standing still or moving? What direction are you moving today? Are you following your destiny, or are you on a detour somewhere lost in a forest of superficial desires and looking for an X on the map?
DAY
199
“Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.”