In my reading recently, I came across this quote:
“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” — Andrew Carnegie
Great quote but I believe Andrew may have the order of things a little mixed up.
Hope is the fuel that sets everything else in motion. Hope glimmers when you catch a vision and then dare to believe that the goal is possible. (‘Daring to believe’ is faith, another important element but that’s another discussion.)
The tiniest spark of hope offers just enough light to see your dream on the horizon. Then its up to you to move toward it using every ounce of that liberated energy Andrew mentioned.
Your dreams are critical because you alone were gifted with them. They need your unique combination of talents and experience in order to be born. So stop avoiding them. Hope is the midwife. Enlist her help.
If someone has stomped on your dreams in the past, then perhaps you’re hanging out with the wrong people. You may even have to leave one or two dream-stompers behind. Move on and find someone to help you hope.
When I first got into business I had no idea if I could succeed so I made it a point to hang out with people who believed in me. I knew that when the going got tough all I had to do was spend a few minutes with them. Just by looking iinto their eyes, I’d find what I needed to keep going – belief.
So kindle hope, find your believers and get into action.
And that’s a pretty good recipe for success.
