What do you think most people’s greatest fear is?
Not having any money? Being alone? Death?
All those things can be quite frightening, but there’s one thing that can be even worse…
It’s dying without ever truly living. It’s getting to the end of the road and thinking, “If only I had started my business… written a book… or followed through on that great idea I had.”
Unfortunately, a whole lot of people die with those kinds of regrets.
Why?
Because most people go through life dutifully doing what they were taught to do or what is expected of them.
And, then, when they reach the end of their lives, they regret not pursuing the goals and dreams that were in their own heart.
Of course, that doesn’t have to be your fate.
Even if you’ve fallen into the trap of living by habit instead of…
Living by Design
If you feel like you’re an extra in your own movie, starting today, refuse to let the world’s demands consume you. Break your routine by setting aside time every day to do something that you love to do.
What idea ignites a spark inside you? What lights you up more fervently than anything else in your life?
Once you’ve identified it, set a goal that really winds your stem. You want to pick something that is so exciting you can’t wait to work on it every day.
Once you have your goal in mind, then make a conscious decision to…
Give It All You’ve Got
Now that doesn’t mean you’ve got to quit your job or shirk your other responsibilities.
However, you should make your goal a priority in your life and do something to move you closer to it every day. And while you’re working on it, give it your full attention. Forget about all the other things you “should” be doing and just do your work.
Don’t be one of those people who are afraid to follow their dreams because they’re afraid of what they might lose.
The only thing you’re going to lose is a dull and predictable life.
I believe every person was built to live out the dream they have inside. But the only way to do that is to commit to it. You’ve got to say, “I will do this.”
Otherwise, it’s a conditional decision.
If you make a conditional decision to invent something, change your career, or open an art studio, then you can guess what’s going to happen…
You’ll give it a half-hearted effort, and you will not get the results that you are capable of or are dreaming of.
The Rewards Are Outstanding
Will it be easy to achieve your dream? No.
You will experience setbacks along the way.
But, know this…
As you are climbing that mountain to reach your dream, you are bringing more and more of yourself to the surface. You are becoming the best version of you.
And, as Napoleon Hill said:
“No more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty.”
That’s true whether your goal is to become wealthy, cure a disease, or write a book. No matter what you do in life (or don’t do), it requires effort.
And you will also experience pain. However, you get to choose the type. You can either experience the pain that comes from being on the road to success or the pain of being haunted by regret.
All very successful people failed many times before they reached their goal.
But this isn’t about the Steve Jobs, the Oprah Winfreys, or the Steven Speilbergs of the world. It’s not about becoming the greatest inventor, the best baseball player, or the most influential business person in the world.
This is about reaching YOUR highest level, not someone else’s. It’s about living a life without regrets.
Belief is the Magic Potion
I’ve read thousands of books, but one of the real jewels in my library is a book that was written many years ago by Dorothea Brande.
The book is called Wake Up and Live!
Her entire philosophy can be reduced to one powerful line:
“Act as though it were impossible to fail.”
I couldn’t agree more.
What’s stopping you from pursuing your dream is your lack of belief that you can do it.
But think about all the things you’d do if you believed that you were moving toward an inevitable success. Your fears, anxieties and apprehensions would disappear, and you’d act with certainty and confidence. And that would certainly change your results.
So, don’t hope for your dream. Don’t wish for it. Believe that it will be yours, then you’ll be off to the races.
Which Path Will You Choose?
If you have a business, skill, or an idea locked in your mind, don’t smother it. Breathe life into it.
Grab a pen and some paper and write out what your life would be like if you were doing what you really want to do. Really crank up your imagination and write it all down.
You have a part to play in this game called life, my friend. Don’t sell yourself and the world short by keeping your gifts buried inside.
You are not defined or limited by your past. With every thought, you are born anew.
So, start using your mind today to create a new path that will lead to new adventures and an amazing ending to your life story.
To your success,
Bob Proctor
P.S. You can get started on your new path right here, right now, on this website. Write your vision. Sign up for our Insight of the Day, or subscribe to Six Minutes to Success.
You can have such a profoundly positive impact on the world. And all you have to do is be who you were born to be.
