Dare to live without limits Week of 11/18/19

Don’t let fear of failure lead to burying your dreams

A burial is a final resting place. A dream which is buried is a dream that can never come to life. You will never know where that dream would have taken you. You will regret never knowing what could have been if the dream had been pursued.
A dream is buried for any number of justifications. The justifications all lead to the same result; the dream is dead. These justifications are so effective because you believe them to be true. You won’t pursue any dream to which you are not totally committed.
Fear of failure may be the number one justification for burying a dream. The reasoning is that you can’t fail at something you don’t start. The flaw in this logic is that not pursuing a dream is the number one regret for most people. Since failure only occurs when you quit, never, ever, give up.
Fear of criticism is another dream killer. Here, you are afraid of being mocked, ridiculed, or derided for following a dream. So you feel it is safer to avoid any risks by avoiding the dream. This approach empowers your critics to determine your path. Ignore the naysayers. It doesn’t matter what other people say, think, or do. What does matter are your thoughts and actions.
Seeking to please others is a dream killer. In an attempt to meet someone’s expectations, you abandon your dream in order to pursue a dream they feel is more appropriate for you. You are then endeavoring to live their dream instead of yours.
A past failure is a dream killer. Because of a bad experience, you conclude attainment of your dream is impossible. In reality, achieving a dream typically takes numerous attempts. A failure is simply feedback that a particular approach didn’t work. It’s an indicator that some change is required.
There is a lot to be learned when something doesn’t work out as planned. Analyze what went wrong, and why. All successful people go through this process. Failures build a solid foundation for success.
Difficulty is a dream killer. “It’s too hard,” is a common refrain from those who abandon a dream. Anything worthwhile in life requires effort. Taking the road of least resistance accomplishes nothing. The rewards from achieving a dream are well worth your time and energy.
A lack of confidence in your ability to succeed is a dream killer. You won’t accomplish anything you believe to be impossible. If you don’t think you can, you won’t. A belief in yourself is a prerequisite for accomplishment.
Believing you don’t deserve your dream is a dream killer. This mindset leads to avoidance or self-sabotage. Since you feel guilty about what you might attain, your subconscious mind creates impediments. Get past this issue by understanding that your accomplishments are not at the expense of anyone else. Additionally, you are in the best position to help others when you are successful. Also, reaching your dreams sets a great example for other people.
Don’t bury your dreams. You deserve success and happiness. Life is filled with potential and opportunity, but it is not a practice run. You don’t want to regret not following those dreams you buried. Each dream you pursue takes you on an incredible journey. You will create and discover so many amazing aspects of your life.
Spend all of your time and energy pursuing each one of your dreams. Leave your comfort zone. Reach for the impossible. The real definition of impossible is “It Means Possible.” Connect with other positive people in order to encourage and support each other.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper.  2019 Bryan Golden