It takes a conscious decision to know that I have and am failing forward–that it is a result, and not an end result.
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When it comes to getting our dream back, there are a few things we need to do first to allow our minds to roam free. If not, we can hurt our attempt to make a comeback to accomplish the dreams that we’ve always had.
All too often, I see friends who simply can’t get over the things that they can control.
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We all know that “life happens” and we’re dealt blows that are beyond our control. From family issues to work issues to loved ones passing away, they come as a thief in the night and can curtail our progress when pursuing our dreams.
We know that every day brings new challenges and as much as we’d like to be ready for them, we are not. They are simply out of our control. But what about the things we can control?
All too often, I see friends who simply can’t get over the things that they can control. Things that happen in their minds. Things that continually bring them down when, in all honesty, they have all the power in the world to identify them, package them up, and ship them out forever.
If not, you are practicing self-sabotage… dream suicide, if you will. Here are three things that you need to quickly get rid of, or they will forever be a dream eating cancer that will continually slap you in the face, mocking your every desire.
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Resentment
Resentment has a unique power, all of its own. It can sneak its way into your heart and tap into all of your hate emotions and literally sink you. When you have resentment towards another person, you are allowing that person to run your life.
I have seen people quit doing what they love the most just because they felt “wronged” by another person. Maybe the other person cheated their way to a promotion, maybe the other person got the loan, or maybe they just worked harder and got a job, fair and square. It doesn’t matter…
When you let resentment in, along comes unforgiveness and that sets the stage for a lot of other complications. Not only in pursuing your dreams, but many other areas of your life as well. Let resentment go!
Past Failures
Failure gets a bad rap. I think it is one of the most misused words in the English dictionary. If you can see failure not as an end result, but simply as a result, you will learn from it and continually sharpen yourself to get a better result.
Sometimes when people fail at something, they quit doing it for the rest of their lives. Now that is a failure.
Some of the most beloved figures in history have failed more than we can even count. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team in his sophomore year. Steven Spielberg was rejected twice by the University of Southern California film school. Colonel Harland Sanders’ (KFC) famous recipe was rejected over 1,000 times before he found a partner to find his idea worthwhile. If you can get a hit in baseball three out of ten times, you more than likely will be paid millions… that means you failed seven times!
What do all of these examples have in common? They used failure as a result, not an end result. If you have failed at a business idea in the past, at going for a top management position, at writing a book… don’t let that deter you from trying again! As long as you fail forward, you will at least be… Moving forward!
Pride
Pride… what an ugly word. The moment this word comes into my head, I think of someone who pulls his shoulders back, puts a smug look on his face, then suddenly knows everything!
Pride will make you do it for “you” and not for anyone else.
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I believe pride is the ultimate dream killer, simply because it will stop you from learning what you are supposed to learn. Pride will keep you in the hen house when you should be strutting with the roosters.
You will be self-absorbed, you will not seek out advice or counsel, and you will piss a lot of people off in the process.
Pride will make you do it for “you” and not for anyone else. If you have any issues with pride, please get rid of it now if you are looking to pursue any dream you may have. Let pride go!
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Wrap Up
I’m sure at least one of these resonated with you. When writing this, I could feel my emotional thermometer rise when I was writing about past failures. I am thankful that I was born to be a risk-taker but at times, I can feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to failure. It takes a conscious decision to know that I have and am failing forward, that it is a result and not an end result. It hit me right in the face, and I am so glad it did. I needed it!
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Photo: Flickr/ Daniel Foster
This article originally appeared on Massive Impact.