Don’t be the one holding yourself back

In the past 6 months of my life, I have been going through a complete spiritual, mental, emotional and physical transformation. And it has been one of the most challenging yet incredible things I have ever experienced!

I think one of the most shocking things I realized is that I had in my mind settled on a life of mediocrity. Now conciously, I didn’t think of it as mediocrity, I thought of it as a normal, simple, self-reliant and sufficiant for my then goals in life. Because of that, I put constraints on my own vision for my life.

I never envisioned being rich (or having more money that would provide comfort). I never thought about rising in my profession to the point of trying to influence structural or societal change. I never saw myself as a leader. I never thought that I could be myself 100% at all times with anyone not worrying about judgement or shame. I never believed that I could be in a relationship with someone who would accept me completely for who I am and love me unconditionally.

Consequently, because I didn’t have a vision for those things, I settled for less. I didn’t even imagine, or allow myself to imagine, that these things were possible for me.

What ideas in your own mind do you not allow yourself to envision? What dreams do you suppress because it isn’t practical, seems impossible, you don’t know how or where to start, or that you just plain are afraid to think about? Whatever it is… don’t be the one to hold yourself back. There will be sufficient challenges along the way. And plenty of people giving you a plethora of reasons why you shouldn’t try to do whatever it is in your mind and spirit to pursue. So don’t be that person to yourself!

In my young adulthood, I shared ideas and visions for my life. To give the benefit of the doubt to them, they were mostly well meaning people, family and friends offering advice about “being practical,” “keeping your feet on the ground,” “having a back up plan,” or simply pointing out the ways and reasons that it couldn’t be done. Unfortunately for me, I allowed myself to internalize and believe these external opinions based on fear and doubt. I planned and chose for myself a comfortable existence, one that was based on security and safety with little to no risk.

While that has served its purpose, I am not that young girl anymore. I will no longer ceed my power, my visions, my goals to the fear-based mentality of others.

The following quote has been on the wall of my house since I was 22 years old. I wanted this to be my mantra, my motivating belief in my actions and my life.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

However, I have come to realize that while it was on my wall, it was not in my heart, in my confidence, in my life. But no more, while life will present struggles, obstacles and challenges, it will be mine to overcome. And I will no longer being the one holding myself back from greatness.