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Leadership Thought #230 – Aspire To Reach Higher

October 17, 2011

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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 watch it all the time.  If comparable energy were given to figuring out how to overcome obstacles as is given to identifying them, many more people would live happier lives.  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.

What is odd and paradoxical to observe is how people end up with the outcomes that they wanted to avoid in life.  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, 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 life, 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 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.  There are examples of people overcoming tremendous odds every day.  Instead of settling for a life that doesn’t serve them well (enough) they continually opt to raise the bar on their own 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!