You Have a Dream.
Maybe you want to start your own business because you’re tired of working for less than you’re worth. Maybe you want to change jobs because you want to you want to make more money and feel more fulfilled at work. Maybe you want to start a volunteer organization, ask that girl out on a date, start a ministry, create a club, etc.
You’re so excited about the idea that you have to share it with someone. Maybe you call your dad, your best friend, your cousin, your aunt, and you tell them the exciting news about your new idea. And they eat your lunch……. They totally rip your idea apart and tell you about all the reasons why you shouldn’t do it, why it’s a bad idea, that you’re wasting your time, and the list goes on and on. Afterwards you’re upset, frustrated, and don’t feel like doing what you were going to do anymore. Your dream has been stolen, where did things go wrong?
The biggest mistake that most people make is they pick the wrong person to take their advice from. But how do you know? Before you ask someone for their advice you have no idea how they are going to respond and what they are going to say. While this is a true statement, the question to ask yourself is not “what is this person going to think?” The question you should be asking is “does this person have what I want in life?” In more simple terms, would you trade places with that person?
If you can’t answer yes to wanting to trade places with that person, it means you should not be asking that person for advice. You’ve probably heard someone say something along the line of “what you do speaks so loudly that I can’t hear what you say.” This is a principle you should apply to your life. If the person giving you advice doesn’t have what you want, don’t allow them to feed you a mindset that is going to take you down the same fruitless path they have taken. Be a fruit checker, examine where people have gone before you take their advice and run with it.
“Well isn’t that a little harsh? They have my best interest in mind, they love me after all.”
Yes, they likely do have their best interest for you in mind. That does not replace the fact that they have no possible way of helping you get where you want to be. Good intentions and good position are totally different. This is your life! You get ONE chance at this. You’ll never have this day back or any of the time you’ve spent back. Are you sure you want to take the advice of someone that doesn’t understand your vision?
It is very important to network with and socialize with people that are further along in life than you are. People that will help you expand your dream and show you that what you want to accomplish is not only possible but is also more than likely small compared to what you can really do. Someone that is further along than you will never criticize you and your dream. Why? It probably isn’t worth their time to tear you down and their self-image is strong enough to where they don’t need to tear you down to build themselves up. Often times the critics are the ones that were too afraid to do what you want to do or quit when things got inconvenient or hard. Is that what you want? Do you want the fruit of a quitter? Do you want the fruit of a coward? Because that is EXACTLY what you will become if you take their advice. Do not take this likely, if you want something then seek out people that have done something great and spend as much time around them as possible! Treat every crumb like a feast and do everything you can to make your dream a reality! Is someone else going to build your dream for you? Last I checked, it is your responsibility to make a reality the dream God has planted in your heart. He has given you all the tools, it’s your choice whether or not you’ll do it.
“The size of the man is determined by the size of what stops him.” Maybe you have already received some advice that is crushing. I encourage you to examine the life of the person that gave you that advice and figure out if you would trade places with them. How’s their marriage? Finances? Relationships? Attitude? Figure out those answers, and if it’s not what you’re looking for, reject it and renew your mind with right perspective.
“Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it”
Pick your path, find your people, fight the good fight, accomplish your dreams, be all you were called to be.
Now is your time.