“I will what I want”
“What I want in my life is….”
“What would you do if you knew you would not fail”
Statements used by many to manifest their vision. If you can’t articulate it, no one is going to do it for you. And when you say it you have to believe it and have the courage to make the right choices to follow it.
Even when everyone tells you can’t get there, you have to believe you can.
This brings to mind the amazing new Under Armor campaign with Misty Copeland and other incredible female athletes. While Ms. Copeland is dancing across the stage a child’s voice reads the rejection letter she received when she applied to a dance academy at the age of 13. Today, she is considered the first African American ballerina soloist for the American Ballet Theater.
I have a similar experience from childhood. No I did not become any type of ballerina. But when I was 10 or so I was told by college softball coaches, conducting a clinic with my league (Sahuaro Bobby Sox in Tucson, AZ) that I was not going to be tall enough, strong enough or have big enough hands to be a competitive pitcher. Humph.
proud I didn’t listen
I don’t know what pushed Ms. Copeland to overlook her critics and reach for her #biglifevision. But for me it was a healthy balance of determination, competitive nature and great parents. Today, proudly hanging in my office is a plaque honoring my induction into Furman University Athletic Hall of Fame, for my pitching career. And I believe that my years of work towards the goal of pitching in college laid a great foundation of who I am today and what I’ve accomplished.
I could go on and on about how we require our children to specialize and pick their pursuits too early. And how”constructive coaching” can crush a adolescent’s desire, dreams and vision with feedback that is based on their physical and/or mental ability far before they have come into themselves. In the worst of these cases it’s considered “saving them the pain of not making it.” I have learned just as much from failure as I have from success. We all do. But I’ll stop there.
Instead I’ll focus on the innate human ability to drown out the failures and discouragement and live to honor what you want and who you are. When encouraged and supported, by yourself and by others, you can achieve your vision. We must surround ourselves with positive influence and support, work hard and have patience with ourselves and the universe, and anything can happen.
Sometimes it’s exactly as you envisioned it – and sometimes it’s even better. Go #iwillwhatiwant this week. Go live your #BigLifeVision
“this is the magic of intuition” what a wonderful statement Anders. It is, indeed, the responsibility of all of us to encourage growth, to help people embrace their strengths and bring their life into full focus. But it starts knowing what you want and working towards it.
As an adult you have a huge responsibility towards kids to actively promote them with positivt encouragements. Not only you own kids – but all kids.
As a leader/manager/authority you have the same responsibiltiy towards your staff, peers, folowers and other stakeholders. Leading and living with “the appreciative eye” will take you to better places in life that you might even know today. This is the magic of intuition.