How many times have you thought ‘I need to… I want to…I dream…’ and then told yourself that it’simpossible and that those kinds of successes are only for other people? Some of you maybe never, butfor some, that has been your mantra for most of your life.

Why?

There are a myriad of reasons we choose not to pursue what we want out of life and develop self-imposed limits to our potential and our dreams. I don’t think any one reason holds us back, but rather acombination of things; such as lack of self-confi dence, fear of change, fear of failure, or even fear ofsuccess. Somehow those fears sneak into our lives and work hard at convincing us that good enough isgood enough or that it’s just the way life has to be. We allow ourselves to lose faith in who we are andwho we could be, then soften the blow with excuses and false platitudes.

I’m reminded of a skit from Saturday Night Live, Stuart Smalley’s Daily Affi rmations, and hiscatchphrases, done in humor, but with a bit of truth underneath.

“I’m good enough, I’m smart enough….”

“I deserve good things; I am entitled to my share of happiness. I refuse to beat myself up…”

Yes it was intended to make fun of the self-help crazes of the 1980s, but is it so bad to remind ourselvesthat we are good enough and that we do matter?

If we pursue a dream, a personal goal, or even general life choices, we may have to make some toughdecisions that aff ect both us and those close to us. We may have to fi nally realize that we are importantenough to put ourselves fi rst for a change. We may have to work harder than we have ever workedbefore. We may have to take a chance on the unknown and prepare ourselves for mini-setbacks orpossible complete failure. Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Just know that through it all, you will learn totrust yourself and fi nd that you are stronger than you give yourself credit for.

Chasing your hopes and dreams, both big and small, is just a mental game of the ‘Little Engine ThatCould’. You have to think you can before you can. Give it a try. Really. You can do it. I’m not telling youanything you don’t already know. I’m just pushing you to think about it briefl y, recognize that you cando it, and then go for it. ‘It’ is whatever is important to you, whatever you want out of this life. I promisethat it will be worth it in the end when you can say: ‘I dreamed it…I wanted it… I did it… I tried it…

You are never too old to amaze yourself and the bonus is that in the process you may amaze somepeople around you, too. At minimum, you will give them something to talk about and sometimes that’sas much fun as achieving your dream.

Carpe Diem!

As I See It