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Leadership Thought #230 – Aspire To Reach Higher

October 17, 2011

Leadership Thought #230 – Aspire To Reach Higher

Table of Contents

We can all learn to believe in ourselves and reach higher.

It’s sad and frustrating how many people talk themselves out of success. I constantly watch it happen. Many more people would lead happier lives if we invested the same energy in overcoming obstacles as we do in identifying them. It’s important to always remember that what we focus on expands and what we ignore contracts. You should only listen to that little voice in your head when the self-talk is positive and constructive, not negative.

It’s strange and ironic how people get the results they wanted to avoid. Skeptical individuals end up becoming cynics who trust no one. Overly cautious people suffer from analysis paralysis and increasingly miss the right opportunities for advancement and growth. People who worry too much about what others think about them become narrow-minded and judgmental. Individuals who want to ask for help see it as a sign of personal weakness and end up feeling isolated and vulnerable.

Every life is special. Every individual is capable of remarkable things. We all have shortcomings, but we also have talents, passions, and characteristics that serve us well. At the end of our lives, we can look back and rationalize our decisions/actions and feign comfort with mediocrity, OR we can say we gave it our all, given the skills/talents and circumstances we had to work with. Making excuses never makes anyone feel better, but instead reinforces individual insecurities, defends a lack of effort and/or perseverance, and puts too much emphasis on luck as a variable associated with success. We can push ourselves to reach higher.

Look all around you. Every day, individuals overcome immense challenges. Rather than accepting a life that doesn’t meet their needs, they consistently choose to surpass their expectations. I encourage you to ignore the naysayers and forge ahead courageously in the direction of your dreams. Positive momentum more readily begets further positive momentum, and this also works in reverse. Never succumb to self-doubt, self-pity, and the flawed expectations of others. Continually push yourself in the direction of happiness and success. Broaden and deepen your definition of what’s possible. Aspire to reach higher!

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