You Are Stronger Than You Think

You have the power to achieve your goals, and you are stronger than you think!

If there’s one great truth that I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you are stronger than you think you are. This is especially true when it comes to your dreams and creating the kind of life you want to live. Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to go for something, then no matter what the challenge is or how scary the situation may be, you are always strong enough to see it through, whether you know it or not

The problem is that, sometimes, we let fear take root. And once we let that happen, obstacles suddenly become insurmountable and the fear we associate with venturing forth into unknown territory becomes sheer terror. And so we back off. We give in to the fear and we stay frozen in place where we are, not knowing which way to turn or what to do next.

Beyond the fear: you are stronger than you think

And for some, it never goes beyond that. They stay where they are forever, and never find out what might have been. The fear of failure, or of the suffering that could come about through that failure, are enough to prevent them from even trying. And so they drop their dreams, leaving them behind for the security of the safer route.

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. ~Paulo Coelho

But imagine what might happen if we let go of the fear; imagine if we could dare to face the fear and look beyond it. What if we could take a deep, steadying breath and say “OK, Fear – I know you’re trying to tell me something and I appreciate that. But is there a way we could work together so that I can still achieve what I want to and you can still tell me what you need to tell me?” What if we could turn that fear into an ally, and use it as a catalyst to do more and become more than we ever could have before?

To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. ~ Katherine Paterson

Knowing what you’re capable of, before you need to

At a recent Toastmasters meeting, a colleague by the name of David Perry (nicknamed “The Rogue Recruiter” by The Wall Street Journal for his unconventional approach to executive search, and author of Guerilla Marketing for Job Hunters) gave a toast for the evening and said: “May you always know what you are capable of before you need to.”

And to me, this really is the key to everything; knowing what we are capable of before we need to, because this will help us to get through the fear that springs up when we start taking real action towards our dreams and goals. It’s about believing in yourself and in your own ability to overcome any challenges that you may face. It’s about knowing that you are stronger than you think. It’s about understanding that if you really want something, there is always a way to make it happen. It’s about determination and ingenuity and not stopping until you’ve reached your goal, because anything else would be unthinkable.

It’s about believing in the power of your own dreams and in your own ability to make them a reality, despite the storms that might howl around you.

And so, a toast to you today:

May you always believe in the importance of your dreams;
May you always know that you have the power to make a difference in this world;
May you always know how much you are loved, and how important you really are;
May you always know that the Universe is on your side;
And may you always know what you are capable of before you need to.

Fear is a normal reaction when facing the unknown. When you make that life-changing decision and commitment to follow your heart and follow your dreams, you’re going to start heading in directions you’ve probably never gone in before. And when this happens, fear is to be expected — but letting that fear dictate the terms of your life is an option, and you are free to choose otherwise. You are free to look past the fear and to use it as a stepping stone to even greater things. Because you are always stronger than you think you are.