BELIEVING
The end of 2007 is nearly here, and we’re moving toward the time of year when believing is something grownups can do without feeling silly or childish. We begin to believe in Santa Claus again, we believe the world could be a better place and that peace is attainable, and some of us dust off beliefs that were instilled in us long ago as children, and begin examining them once more.
Believing in things that we can’t prove are real is something that stays with us for life, and we should be very glad of that fact. If we didn’t believe – in ourselves, in love, in forever, in a hereafter – life would be a depressing existence, something just to be dealt with as best we could manage.
Because we’re human, and we refuse to accept misery as the norm, we do believe in many things. Some are sure and certain, while others remain more ethereal in nature.
Believing in oneself is sometimes more difficult than believing in Santa Claus. Why is it so hard for us to believe in ourselves? The answer to that question could fill up several more pages of this blog. Suffice to say, many of us are hardest on the one person that we must live with all of our lives and that we can never leave – ourselves. When we decide to take a leap of faith and actually believe we can do something we’ve never done before, it’s often done with quaking knees and nervous fears. Let’s face it – it’s tough to be all grown up, and know that you need to learn to believe in yourself.
However, we each have one – and only one – life. It needs to be lived to the fullest, and sometimes it takes years for some of us to learn that truth. When I finally decided to start my own business, on some days I tried very hard to talk myself out of it. “It will take too long to take the necessary coursework you need to be successful.” “What if I make a mistake?” “I don’t think I can do that!” “What if I fail?” “What if. . .?” “What if. . .” And on, and on, and on. . .
But, on other days, I knew in my heart that I had to give it a try -- and not just give it a try, but give it my best shot. Those days are the days that keep me going, making me feel alive and believing in my abilities.
I talked to myself a lot while deciding to go into business for myself. That was probably a good thing, because I talked myself through the ‘what-ifs’ and ‘buts,’ and finally realized that nothing is certain. I could give this venture my very best and, possibly, fail. But, I would have tried it – and perhaps it really could have a positive outcome.
Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility. In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.”
And, in the end, I didn’t. I decided to take the leap – of faith, of belief – whatever you want to call it. I decided I had as much right as the next person to give it a try – work for myself and make myself the best virtual assistant I could be. I embraced this new venture with gusto.
It’s an ongoing process, and on some days, I feel like I’ve taken two giant steps backward. But on most days I’m happy, and I feel a sense of satisfaction. I am making this work. I do believe in myself, and I can make this happen. Not overnight, not next week, but eventually. Success isn't something static to be achieved, but an ongoing process that's part of each day. I'm moving in the right direction. I'm very happy that I clung to my belief in myself. Like believing in Santa Claus, I didn’t know, for sure, that I had the gumption to see this through until I gave it a try. It’s looking very positive, and I’m happy that I’ve jumped in with both feet. There are many more happy days than days filled with angst, and that tells me I'm doing something right.
I think that what I'm trying to say is that during this holiday season, we should all slow down, give some thought to the year that’s nearly over, and assess what we would like to do with the new year that will be presented to us at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. It’s a wonderful gift that too many of us take for granted. What would you like to have happen in your life in 2008? How will you work to make it happen?
I certainly will never have all the answers, but come 2008, I'll know that I accomplished something this past year, something wonderful. I found that I did have the gumption to jump in and start my own business. I wanted to do something, and I did it. And along the way, I learned something very fundamental -- I learned that I truly do believe in myself.
Do you believe?
PearceVirtualSolutions.com * (563) 321-8675 * PO Box 1436, Muscatine, IA 52761
The end of 2007 is nearly here, and we’re moving toward the time of year when believing is something grownups can do without feeling silly or childish. We begin to believe in Santa Claus again, we believe the world could be a better place and that peace is attainable, and some of us dust off beliefs that were instilled in us long ago as children, and begin examining them once more.
Believing in things that we can’t prove are real is something that stays with us for life, and we should be very glad of that fact. If we didn’t believe – in ourselves, in love, in forever, in a hereafter – life would be a depressing existence, something just to be dealt with as best we could manage.
Because we’re human, and we refuse to accept misery as the norm, we do believe in many things. Some are sure and certain, while others remain more ethereal in nature.
Believing in oneself is sometimes more difficult than believing in Santa Claus. Why is it so hard for us to believe in ourselves? The answer to that question could fill up several more pages of this blog. Suffice to say, many of us are hardest on the one person that we must live with all of our lives and that we can never leave – ourselves. When we decide to take a leap of faith and actually believe we can do something we’ve never done before, it’s often done with quaking knees and nervous fears. Let’s face it – it’s tough to be all grown up, and know that you need to learn to believe in yourself.
However, we each have one – and only one – life. It needs to be lived to the fullest, and sometimes it takes years for some of us to learn that truth. When I finally decided to start my own business, on some days I tried very hard to talk myself out of it. “It will take too long to take the necessary coursework you need to be successful.” “What if I make a mistake?” “I don’t think I can do that!” “What if I fail?” “What if. . .?” “What if. . .” And on, and on, and on. . .
But, on other days, I knew in my heart that I had to give it a try -- and not just give it a try, but give it my best shot. Those days are the days that keep me going, making me feel alive and believing in my abilities.
I talked to myself a lot while deciding to go into business for myself. That was probably a good thing, because I talked myself through the ‘what-ifs’ and ‘buts,’ and finally realized that nothing is certain. I could give this venture my very best and, possibly, fail. But, I would have tried it – and perhaps it really could have a positive outcome.
Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility. In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Life must be lived and curiosity kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.”
And, in the end, I didn’t. I decided to take the leap – of faith, of belief – whatever you want to call it. I decided I had as much right as the next person to give it a try – work for myself and make myself the best virtual assistant I could be. I embraced this new venture with gusto.
It’s an ongoing process, and on some days, I feel like I’ve taken two giant steps backward. But on most days I’m happy, and I feel a sense of satisfaction. I am making this work. I do believe in myself, and I can make this happen. Not overnight, not next week, but eventually. Success isn't something static to be achieved, but an ongoing process that's part of each day. I'm moving in the right direction. I'm very happy that I clung to my belief in myself. Like believing in Santa Claus, I didn’t know, for sure, that I had the gumption to see this through until I gave it a try. It’s looking very positive, and I’m happy that I’ve jumped in with both feet. There are many more happy days than days filled with angst, and that tells me I'm doing something right.
I think that what I'm trying to say is that during this holiday season, we should all slow down, give some thought to the year that’s nearly over, and assess what we would like to do with the new year that will be presented to us at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. It’s a wonderful gift that too many of us take for granted. What would you like to have happen in your life in 2008? How will you work to make it happen?
I certainly will never have all the answers, but come 2008, I'll know that I accomplished something this past year, something wonderful. I found that I did have the gumption to jump in and start my own business. I wanted to do something, and I did it. And along the way, I learned something very fundamental -- I learned that I truly do believe in myself.
Do you believe?
PearceVirtualSolutions.com * (563) 321-8675 * PO Box 1436, Muscatine, IA 52761
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