“Where there is no vision, the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18
Most Jamaicans ardently want our nation to progress towards peace and prosperity. However, many of us don’t realise that for Jamaica to advance, we can’t simply expect others to make it happen; we must each embark upon our own personal journey of growth and development.
In The Richest Man in Babylon, author George S Clason declares that, “Our prosperity as a nation depends upon the personal financial prosperity of each of us as individuals.” In other words, if we are going to see Jamaica succeed, we have to first commit to working on our personal success.
In over 10 years of coaching persons on their financial goals, I have discovered that there are two main reasons that prevent people from getting ahead in life. Most persons are not clear about exactly what they want to achieve; and even if they have some idea about what they want, they aren’t passionate enough about why they want it to happen.
Clarity of purpose and enthusiastic action are the essentials of goal attainment. Unfortunately, many persons get sidetracked early on in the process of designing their dreams. Once they conceive of an idea to help them to get to a higher level, their minds give them all the reasons why it is impossible to achieve it.
“You don’t have enough money, you don’t have the time, you’re not smart enough, no one will listen to you, you’re too old, you’re too young, you don’t like to sell, you don’t like talking in front other people, nobody has ever done that before”; these are only a few of the excuses created by a fearful and fertile imagination that wants to keep you in your comfort zone.
Can your dream make a difference?
To attain national prosperity, more persons need to face their fears and go after their dreams. Many people are sitting on some inspired ideas that, if actualised, would take Jamaica to new heights. Don’t say that our problems are caused by lack of action only on the part of the government, private sector, or the church; what have you done to make a difference?
Some persons who have embarked on the journey towards achieving their dreams find that the process is not as simple as they envisioned. Unlike a fairy tale where the hero lives happily ever after, they usually find that the path to goal achievement seems more like a nightmare than the fulfilling dream that they imagined.
If you are going after your dream, understand that it won’t happen without personal sacrifice. Expect to be tested in various ways in order to prove your dedication to the dream. Be prepared for opposition and criticism, often from those you love the most, and obstacles that may initially seem insurmountable.
I encourage persons to learn more about the goal attainment process from the wisdom contained in books and CDs. You will also be heartened by reading stories of people who have overcome tremendous odds to achieve their dreams. Once you realise that others before you have succeeded, you will believe in your ability to do it too.
Defending the dream
One book that should be recommended reading for anyone who has ever wanted to achieve a major goal is The Dream Giver by best-selling author, Bruce Wilkinson. In this easy-to-read parable, Wilkinson describes the journey of Ordinary, a Nobody in the Land of Familiar, who sets out to pursue his Big Dream.
Wilkinson weaves an enchanting tale of how Ordinary embraces his Big Dream and decides to leave the Comfort Zone of Familiar. When he encounters the Wall of Fear, he fights his anxieties and takes courage to break through this invisible barrier into the Unknown.
As Ordinary battles Bullies who fight his dream, and advances through the terrors of the Wasteland towards the Land of Promise, you will develop a deeper understanding of the obstacles that all dreamers must face. Just like the book’s hero, your task won’t be easy; but if your vision is strong enough and you get support from other dreamers, you can succeed.
Break free from fear
Motivational speaker Paul Tsika reveals that visionaries can see things that others cannot see. In his training CD, Going The Distance, he explains that dreamers have to persevere and pay a price to see their dreams fulfilled. Don’t be afraid of failure, he advises, as “people who attempt something and fail are better than people who attempt nothing and succeed.”
Fear, which can be described as “false evidence appearing real,” tries to prevent you from fulfilling your destiny and seeing your dreams come true. Tsika advises that you need to “fear not seeing your dreams fulfilled more than anything else.”
When you encounter a brick wall, Tsika declares that you should “charge forward in courage and in faith, knowing that you have something worth living and dying for.” So focus on your vision, take courage, and persevere towards your dreams in spite of the challenging circumstances that will come!
Copyright © 2011 Cherryl Hanson Simpson. No reproduction without written consent.
Originally published in The Daily Observer, June 23, 2011
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Cherryl is a financial consultant and coach, founder of Financially S.M.A.R.T. Services. See more of her work at www.financiallyfreenetwork.com and www.financiallysmartonline.com. Contact Cherryl