Friday, November 12, 2010

Do you believe in yourself?

If any of you know me, you know I just LOVE motivational quotes. To me they are little bits of inspiration that come to us to help and encourage us on our journey in life. I ran across a quote from a College Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, John Wooden. He said, "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." I just LOVED this quote!! To many times I think we define ourselves by what we "can't" do rather than what we "can" do, or we believe our weaknesses are more of who we are rather than our strengths. These are limiting beliefs. Some of us are PROS at creating limiting beliefs about ourselves. We build huge thick walls around us one limiting belief at a time until we've created a terribly lonely and isolated life that keeps us from seeing ANY of our strengths. We ALL have strengths! I don't know of one person in my life or who I've ever met that doesn't have strengths. Each are different but all are very important. The secret to true happiness in life is to find those strengths and push them to the limit.

With the economy that we are living in now, things are very tough. I've been watching on the news lately and a positive theme I've been picking up on is that people are now "re-inventing" themselves. Whether it is going back to school to get a different degree or totally starting from scratch and starting their own business in something they are passionate about or just re-evaluating their priorities, simplifying and living their lives on a little less but living their life with much more passion, or peace and contentment. I've been REALLY impressed with the stories of these people. Some lost their jobs and started out with ZERO experience in business, or college education and started a new business and are now living the lives they always wanted to live. Even with so much against them they were able to find their strengths, what they COULD do, and build upon it and pushed and pushed until they succeeded!

Now we may not be out of a job and trying to create a whole new income for ourselves but my question to you is this, are you living your life based upon your strengths and building upon them and feeling more and more complete or are you just taking life day by day and living what ever comes your way building your limiting belief wall brick by brick telling yourself you have nothing to offer, you can't change your circumstances so you will just be content with what life deals you????

Here's some food for thought. What if Leonardo DaVinci was not a good public speaker and he let that thought control his life, or maybe Abraham Lincoln might not have had a great singing voice and he let that thought rule his life, or if Mother Teresa felt she wasn't great at school and that belief affected other areas in her life?? How would our history be different? How would their lives be different? How would our lives be different? Each of these great people found what they were good at, what made them feel complete. They didn't allow any of their weaknesses define them and rule them. They didn't live just what life dealt to them. They discovered their passion and LIVED IT!  You can to! Who knows your talent may be right in front of you! What seems to come easily to you? Do people ask you for advise in a certain area? Live there! And don't let what you can't do interfere with what you are doing!