In Your Mind's Eye

Everyone has a dream, a version of themselves they want to manifest, a life they want to create, and a talent or passion they want to allow to shine. The reality is, most of us aren't brave enough to pursue that version of ourselves. Most of us get caught up in the wheel of what we call life. We work jobs that pay the bills but don't fulfill us. We stay in places physically, mentally, and emotionally that don't allow the best versions of ourselves to be created. We stay because it is easy, convenient, or "the right thing to do." After all, that is the message we tell our hearts. Most of us are too caught up in the wheel of life to allow ourselves to do anything more than dream of what our lives could be. We wait for the perfect time, the perfect opportunity, the perfect situation, and we tell ourselves that when everything aligns, it will then be our time.

The reality is, dear reader, the vast majority of the time that alignment we are seeking never arrives. We continue to run ourselves ragged on the wheel of life, never knowing that what we imagine our lives could be is a mere leap of faith, a bit of bravery, a stubbornness to succeed, and perhaps naivete that all will work out well in the end. To create the life we want and manifest the version of ourselves that lives in our mind's eye, we have to get out of our comfort zone, put ourselves out there, give ourselves some grace that we aren't perfect, learn from our mistakes, and be willing to jump up, knock the dust off, and try again.

God, The Universe, our DNA, whatever you believe in, gifts each of us with a talent. What we choose to do with that talent is a matter of free choice. Having talent isn't enough to be successful. Believing that our talent is worthy, that we are worthy, is the greatest challenge we face. Often, when confronted with challenges, it's easier to step back in line, tell ourselves we aren't cut out for the life we envision, and take the easy path ahead of us rather than forge a new, more difficult, and unsteady path.

If you don't believe in yourself, if you don't see yourself as worthy, as talented, as capable, how can you expect anyone else to see those things in you? I have been thinking about this statement for almost twenty-four hours. It has taken me more than fifty years to come to the understanding that if you don't believe in yourself, nobody is going to take you seriously, see you for the amazing creator, see your vision, see you as a professional, or a business person, an artist, or an expert. If you can't see the exceptional qualities in yourself, you can't expect others to take you seriously.

The first step is clearly seeing the potential you have to become the you that lives in your mind's eye. The next step is taking yourself seriously. Nobody is going to take you seriously if you can't take yourself seriously. If you don't see yourself as a professional, even a new or young one with little experience, others will merely see you as someone who has a hobby, and that is all it will be. Some of us will accept that version of our story, fall back in line, live a life that doesn't fulfill us, and say, "Well, I tried. It just didn't work out." When we know darn well, we gave it a minimal effort for a limited time. For most, that will be okay.

My challenge to you on this lovely September Monday is not to be okay with that version of your story. Good things are worth waiting for, worth fighting, worth the struggle. There is a version of you that is waiting, dying to come out, to shine that light on the world, to share that talent that makes people smile, think, and see a new perspective. I challenge you to be brave enough to follow that dream. Pursue the path that isn't yet forged. Take the course that is uneven and unsteady and own it. After all, if you can see it in your mind's eye, it lives. That vision, that version of you that you see and dream about, was put there for a purpose. So, dear reader, I challenge you to follow that purpose.

On this lovely September Monday, stay safe, be smart, believe in yourself, go after that dream, know you are worthy, and of course, keep washing your hands.