Image by Dru!
Recently someone told me not to pursue one of my 101 life goals, that it wasn’t a worthwhile effort.
I smiled and nodded, understanding their disdain.
How could I do such a thing when this person just dismissed my dream?
In the past, I might have taken offense. But time, meditation and practice has taught me to see these things differently now.
While people may not believe in a goal, that’s their view point. They express their concern or belief because they like you, or feel strongly about such topics.
So in that sense, smiling was a good reaction, respecting this person’s point of view and concern.
That doesn’t mean I’ll stop pursuing my goal. Far from it.
I’ve learned that other people’s beliefs about what works in life are very personal. Sometimes they project personal fears or dislikes on you.
Know which is their’s and not yours. Just as they believe in a great dream that may not be right for me.
C.C. Chapman’s new book Amazing Things Will Happen addresses this issue, too, encouraging you to ignore “seagulls” that poop on your dreams. It’s a good chapter that keeps you focused on your path.
People have been telling me I can’t or shouldn’t do things my whole life. And I do what I want anyway.
Frankly, I think that’s a core element to my successes to date: Willing to risk when I believed in a course of action regardless of naysayers.
I guess you can call that defiance. After all, I’m the idiot that rode motorcycles for 10 years and ran a Tough Mudder last year. I’m the same idiot who published three books even though he “couldn’t write.” Yup, I’m the idiot that graduated from Georgetown masters with honors when some undergrad acamdeics told me I was a loser who would fail.
Thank God I ignored the naysayers.
By the way, just because I don’t believe in someone’s dream, doesn’t mean I feel compelled to suggest failure or stupidity. I’ve learned to keep my mouth closed unless asked. And even then, it may be prefaced with, “Are you sure you want my opinion?”
Dreams and visions differ. That doesn’t mean you have to walk away from friends. Or maybe you should just keep your distance via Facebook.
I have several relatives who have become born again Christians. We don’t really see eye to eye on many visions and goals, but that’s OK. We still like each other’s baby pics on Facebook. LOL!
How do you handle pessimism about your dreams?