It’s cliché, but true -you only live once. So what if we actually took that fact seriously and acted upon it? What if we did take that shot? What could we do? Where could we go?
Go for the Green
In life, like in traffic, there is a time to go, a time to stop and a time to slow down. If we are not “going” forward, then we are either stopped or preparing to stop. Opportunities give us a chance to go forward, but opportunities don’t happen as often as we think; they are like pearls in an oyster.- quite rare. We need to grab hold of them and go.
Don’t Hold Back
We are often unsure, afraid of failure, worried about what other people will think and unconfident in our own abilities. Opportunities come by for these very reasons-to give us a chance to shine, to do something significant and impactful.
They are a gift, a way to use the talents we have and the experience we have acquired. Time and life will pass by. Some same it’s never too late, and there is some truth in this. However, there is also a “too late“. Until then, let’s live!
It may Seem Crazy
We don’t always see the opportunities. Often they come dressed as challenges requiring us to step out of our comfort zone and do something completely different or ‘crazy”. Or, they may be dressed in overalls and work boots and don’t always look that exciting at first.
And, more often than not, they will require us to develop new skills. Those around us may think we have lost our marbles and try to reason us back to normality. Elon Musk is a good example of someone seizing opportunities and chasing a dream – he wants to colonize Mars! Now that’s a crazy dream! But, you know what? I think he can do it.
Be Courageous and Dream Big
Seizing opportunities is an act of courage and faith. Daring to dream and acting on our dreams is uncommon. But big dreams give us the strength to bounce back from failure and keep the spark in our eyes. Failures and setbacks become little glitches in the process. Without dreams, what do we have?
Without something to work toward, it is hard to motivate ourselves to get up each day. Dreams are why we have cell phones and airplanes and why we can travel the world. The world needs more dreamers.
Listen to the Right Voice
The voice we choose to listen to is either propelling us toward success or failure. Where focus grows, energy grows, so we need to focus on the positive. The right voice is quiet and easily drowned out by all the loud negative voices. It takes courage to listen to this quiet voice. If we choose wisely and pay attention, this voice will lead in the direction of success.
Tell Yourself the Right Story
Don’t let events from the past be the backdrop of your future. Don’t bring the roles from your past into your present reality- leave them in the past. Tell yourself a new story – a story of success and don’t allow anyone to write your story or any chapters for you.
We actually have more control over our future than we realize; we don’t have to live in the same mold we grew up in. And, we don’t have to always play it safe – none of us is making it out alive anyway. Tell yourself a new story and a true story and dare to live the story of success!
Confront the Demons
You know the demons I am talking about – the relationship issues that need fixing, the workplace problems that need addressing, the addictions (we all have them) that need to be confronted and our excuses ( head-on collision needed here) that we need to admit to. We cannot sweep these gremlins under the carpet and expect them to disappear. They won’t disappear; they will fester and get worse.
Maybe there are people we need to take aside and have that “crucial conversation” with them. Maybe we need to “fess up” to our own personal issues. Perhaps we need to forgive people who have hurt us. In any case, it is necessary to “untie the knots” and “sweep the deck” clean.
Character Counts
Our character is the foundation of all that we do. It is not only knowing what is wrong (integrity); it also working to undo what is wrong- acting on our core beliefs. It means doing what we said we would do and finishing the story. It means keeping the commitments we made to ourselves and others.
If we told ourselves or others that we are going to change, then we need to take action and follow through. Ultimately, having character means being who we say we are.
Why Not take a Chance?
Taking your shot is a big step. Opportunities come up to help us grow in our thinking, our actions and in our relationships (with ourselves and others). The challenges they present help us to know ourselves better and believe in our abilities.
They come (sometimes quickly and unexpectedly) and go (often before we have had a chance to seize them). But, for those who grab them and run, so much is possible. We only live once, so why not take a chance!
Has this post been helpful to you? Let me know in a comment below.
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Diana’s passions are family, travel, self-improvement, living a debt-free /financially free life. She also loves hanging out with family, friends and her dog Skye. you can connect with her through https://livinganstuff.ca
