WHAT WOULD YOU ACCOMPLISH…

IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL?

It was a brilliantly sunny day and I was driving along my usual route on my way to The Forge with squats on my mind, when something caught my eye.

At the side of the road, I saw this little bamboo plant springing triumphantly out of the tarmac.

It hadn’t even been there a few days before.

It immediately got me thinking. I slowed down and stopped right next to it.

Seriously, this little plant was forcing its way through the tarmac into the sunshine, cracking the asphalt right open.

And growing at a pretty amazing rate too.

No one told it that it could not be done.

That you were not supposed to do that.

That the tarmac was too hard.

That a plant could not grow in the road.

That it would be cut down.

You know, just like all those little excuses we plant inside our own heads when we decide a goal is too much work.

Nah! This little fella decided it was going to crack the road wide open and reach for the sunshine! And that’s just what it did.

And it grew to a pretty respectable height last time I saw it too.

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

There are some lessons to be learnt from a little bamboo plant.

You see, growth and self discovery are two of the major purposes of our journey on this planet.

And it’s unforgiveable when our own fears hold us back from these two objectives of life.

These ingrained fears can come from our own cultures, our experiences, even our closest family members and friends.

You see, a lot of the things we do and think are pre-set or pre-ordained. Just because they have been there for a long time, or are the “norm” or the “accepted” way to go, then we blindly agree that it’s what we should all be doing.

It’s like the notion that you have to have a 9 to 5 job. Or that people become millionaires by a stroke of luck or by falling into a pile of money. Isn’t that the way things happen after all?

I beg to differ with a big “Hell,No!”.

Do NOT be caught up in something without questioning it, just because it’s there.

Be a one percenter – ALWAYS question the status quo.

Stop stifling yourself with “should” – placid acceptance of the norm is the ever-tightening noose around the neck of your success.

Here are three ways of changing the way you court your own success.

1. LISTEN TO YOURSELF

Have you ever desired something, then told yourself to “be sensible” because it was “impossible” to do it?

Or told yourself you were “fine” when something was bothering you deeply?

Or tried to just dismiss a feeling or a dream because it “didn’t really matter”?

Well, if you have ever been through an experience like this, then here is some news for you.

It DOES matter!!! YOU matter!!

It’s your dream. Your calling. Your goal. Your pain. Your life.

And whatever is taking you away from it, is a sign that you are not on the right track right now.

So do listen. Your inner voice will always speak the truth.

And it is YOUR truth. Pay attention!

2. T2G – TIME TO GROW

Indeed, everyone needs some T2G in their lives.

I have this conversation on a very regular basis with my clients. The vast majority of people are stuck in the same place their lives, doing the same thing over and over again, and seeing no way forward.

And most of the blocks in this area seem to happen because of two “reasons”:

First, they think it’s impossible. They have jobs, schedules, obligations, kids, partners, parents and friends to worry about. Who the hell can fit anything else in?

Second, they think it’s selfish. They have jobs, schedules, obligations, kids, partners, parents and friends to worry about. Who else but a selfish person would put all these to the side to spend time on themselves?

When my clients recite this deadly mantra, I always remind them of one very vital fact.

You can only help others when you are in a position of power. A drowning person cannot save another person from drowning.

And you cannot give something you don’t have in your life to someone else.

And you will never have what you need to give to others, if you don’t make the time to give it to yourself.

That’s regardless of all the good intentions in the world.

And, speaking of good intentions, the Devil paved the road from here to Hell with those.

So spare me the semantics and put your good intentions exactly where they should be.

Give yourself time and space to grow. When you do, it will fill your soul with compassion, patience, kindness and generosity, and an undying need to give to others to see them happy.

It’s the way to immortality.

3. THE NAME CALLING GAME

We are pretty big with labels, aren’t we?

Impossible. Can’t be done. Too tough. Not up to it. Can’t be me. Not good enough. No time.

You know the litany – and we are all guilty of it, at one time or another. Me included.

The problem is, as soon as we slap labels on things, a subconscious invisible barrier slams up that puts them in the truly impossible zone.

We can never achieve something we have told ourselves is unachievable.

By not believing, we have become our thoughts. And we have doomed ourselves to fail – before we even start out.

So stop with the name calling already.

Never tell yourself something is impossible. The truth is NOTHING you set your mind is on is truly impossible.

History is full of examples of people who achieved the “impossible”.

The only difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that the succesful ones learn from their mistakes and just keep plugging ahead. Again, and again, and again. As many times as it takes.

No retreat. No surrender.

It’s the tenacity to keep on going, regardless of anything, that will get you to success.

Damn well worth a try isn’t it?