For years I believed the purpose of my life was to be an example of what’s possible. I wanted to show people they could accomplish anything they set their mind to. It brought me incredible joy to say to someone, “hey, if I can do it…you can do it too”. And for years I did. For years I was driven by a force much bigger than myself. Then suddenly, that driving force and those beliefs disappeared.

I began to believe in my doubts and the negative opinions of others. I was convinced everyone was right and I was a fool. Consequently, depression, embarassment, jealousy and anxiety choked the inspiration right out of me and the spark was gone. Have you ever been there?

Suddenly, I realized I couldn’t be with the girl of my dreams because I didn’t have enough money. Suddenly, certain friends would look down on me because I wasn’t as successful as them. Suddenly, at work, eventhough I was an award winner and talented, because I didn’t have a title behind my name…I was just a rep. Suddenly, pushing my family to greatness was viewed as ripping the family a part. Suddenly, being a perfectionist and “laser” focused was anal and traits to be ridiculed not honoured. Suddenly, from several different people and from somewhere deep within me, the questions and the doubts overwhelmed me like a tsunami.

How do you hold out hope for something outstanding, when everything around you is screaming: “not you”, “it’s too late”, “you missed your chance”, “who do you think you are?”, “what have you ever really accomplished?” and “what makes you think you’ll ever to do better?”

Let me ask you…if you haven’t found a man or woman that you want to spend you’re life with yet, what makes you think you ever will? If you haven’t got the promotion or launched that million dollar business idea yet, what makes you think that you have what it takes? If you’ve tried diet after diet and work out after work out and you haven’t lost any significant weight…maybe this really is who you are? Right?

When the evidence is insurmountable and painfully obvious…what do you do?

You have to fight!! You can’t bow down! You’ve got to dig your heals in and hold that line! I know it’s scary and I know feels like all it would take is: just one more comment; just one more eye roll; just one more disappointment to knock you off track forever but you have to fight!

The very fact that you can still think about something better means you’ve still got a shot. The glimmer of hope is not gone.

Remember what George Eliot said; “It is never to late to be what you might have been.”

Change can happen in an instant…so follow your goosebumps, follow your daydreams and trust your gut. Today, there may not be any physical reason to believe in your dreams but that doesn’t matter. You are so much more than your looks, your job, or your money, what you are is infinite and powerful beyond measure. Be radical in your actions, do something new in your life, fuel that spark and tomorrow it will be a roaring fire!

We ask ourselves who am I to be brillant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

Dreams do come true and so will yours but YOU HAVE TO FIGHT!

Now some of you, I know…you’d never do this…you live a perfect life that’s outstanding on every level so you’d never dream of comparing because your life is awesome!  That’s awesome for you!  Liar…just kidding!  I realize some of you would never compare yourself…but some of you…you look, you judge, you compare, you check to see how you measure up.  I know I do.  And sometimes I don’t like what I see. Sometimes I feel bad about how far I’ve come, I’m not to proud of my accomplishments compared to some others…like it’s not enough or this is all that I’ve done.  And a range of emotions like jealousy, embarassment and disappointment start to set in.

A funny thing happens when we start to compare ourselves to others.  They become the goal of our life.  Have you ever heard the expression where your focus goes…your energy flows.  By comparing we start directing our life to become like someone else’s life.  We see their blessings and start to think that’s what success looks like and gradually start moving towards it. 

But what if they’re blessing…isn’t true for you.  What if you weren’t put on this earth to be like them.  We all have a purpose and mission to fulfill.  And by gradually moving towards the perceived success of others we’re moving out of alignment with who we truly are.  That’s why the title of this post is to…”Run against the voice that’s within you”.  Move in alignment with the visions you see for yourself.  That quiet voice inside of you that whispers to you the visions and dreams of who you really are.  The moments when you daydream and think about your future and you feel chills pass over your body…that’s the person you should be.  That’s the person you should compare yourself against.  You want to be the best you, you can be. 

No one knows what you’re capable of…except you.  People will try and put labels on you based on your current career, your friends, your physical body, your education but none of that defines what you are truly capable of.  You decide.  That powerful voice and vision inside of you decides…not the environment, not your family, not your friends, not your boss and not your current circumstances.

It’s time to stop comparing to those around us and start comparing ourselves to what’s lying within us.  It’s time to live in alignment with who you really are…it’s time to stand, to walk, to talk,  and to live like the best that’s within you.

It’s time to work out of you what God’s put inside of you.

Run against the voice thats within you…

Look at how many TV shows, websites and books are dedicated to showing you how to improve your home. I find it fascinating, when I learn about family and friends who literally spend 10′s of thousands of dollars fixing their kitchen or living room. Yet, when I mention that I attended a self improvement event for a couple of hundred dollars they look at me like I’m crazy!

Here’s an interesting thought where will you spend more time in your kitchen or with yourself?

So, if it’s going to help you become a better you, why not pick up a book, or a CD or attend an event? For several years now, I’ve had the distinct priviledge of being a source of inspiration, courage, encouragement, creativity and faith for thousands of people.

And what I can tell you is self improvement, personal development…becoming stronger is anything but crazy. Sometimes you just have to step outside of your present environment and try on a new idea and a new way of thinking.

That’s what this blog is dedicated to! It’s been my passion for as long as I can remember to defy the odds. Go for it…no matter what the situation looks like and do what truly sets your heart on fire. But this site will not be about false promises and cheesy pump up…going for it takes work and a ton of faith. Self improvement or personal development is not for the faint hearted…you’ve got to have the courage, discipline and tenacity to stick when everything around you and inside of you seems to say otherwise.

Let this blog be a resource for what’s truly possible.