Living Cautiously to Die Safely...

How many times have you ever talked yourself out of doing something you really wanted to do? Even WE ALL HAVE A VERY LIMITED TIME ON THIS PLANET and we should be trying to make the most of it with each breath. Do you agree? Worse yet, having someone else talk you out of it? It could be anything from sky diving to deep sea exploring or even more scary - starting your own business during a recession...When did we get so great at not doing what our heart desires or what we think will make us content? Why is it so easy to say "Maybe I shouldn't!" or "It probably wouldn't work anyway" and my personal favorite "If it were such a great idea, somebody else would have thought about it or done it already!" Give me a break! Now I can't claim that my life is where I want it to be (perfect), or that I'm living out all my heart's desires as I type.....; but what I know for a fact is this,

So why then do we sell ourselves short and settle so quickly? The job we have, the school we go to, the person we spend the rest of our lives with, the things we do, the places we go....Are we really living up to our full potential? Are we making the most out of our existence here on earth? My guess is that like me and most people all over the world - we just simply aren't. Knowing that - what are we to do? Well I'm glad you asked, because I think I have the solution for us all.....are you ready?

First you MUST know what you want. This may seem very obvious but the truth is, sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side until you start laying out a blanket and picnic baskets on it. So make sure you think things through thoroughly before throwing everything behind a goal. Why is this so important? Because the bigger the goal, the more discouraging people will be during your climb to success. Some of those people can be VERY convincing. Being absolutely sure that you NEED to accomplish your sought after goal and knowing HOW you are going to do that makes it easier to stomach the discouragement.

Then you start to Remove FEAR from the equation. Fear of disappointment, fear of failure and fear of embarrassment. If what you planned to do was easy, everyone would be able to do it. Additionally, people will tell you that it's impossible.....not that it can't be done....but that YOU don't have what it takes to do it (they do it in a "nice" way). It seems so easy for family and friends to deter us from our dreams and goals; Is it because of the fear that you will succeed? Is it because they would not be able to do it themselves? Or is it that your goal is simply unrealistic? That is something you will have to determine for yourself - but sometimes listening to reasons why things won't work - may give you ideas to ensure that they do. Think about who is giving you advice, what their biases are (everyone is biased) and try to filter through the information as much as possible. This technique only works with a few - most others you will learn how to completely disregard. One thing you should always remember when it comes to failure...One must have failed in order to truly understand and appreciate success. That is the only way we learn and grow. When it comes to your dreams be smart and calculated but HAVE NO FEAR!

Lastly, there are two major components that play a key role and work hand in hand when going after your goals: PASSION and EXECUTION. The easiest way to sum this up is by giving you an example. I went to a store once to check out some new electronics. I came across an item that I wasn't very knowledgeable about and asked one of the attendants to help me figure this thing out. Noticing my interest he quickly went over the S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threat) analysis of the product, giving off positive energy and delivering the message with a smile. He got really excited when he mentioned that he too had purchased the product for himself then went into great detail as to how he uses it personally. He had a glow, an aura about him that was genuine and that they can't teach in "How to be a Salesman" school. He was so passionate and excited about the product it was contagious. His execution of delivery was expressive to the point where it seemed like he put his entire soul into letting me know how he felt about the product. Do you think for one minute that this guy wasn't passionate about the product?

How could you tell? - Through the execution.  If you are passionate about something people will know just by the way you talk about it and how much you know about it. You can't just say I want to go Sky diving and know nothing about it.....that means you don't REALLY want to go sky diving. When you are PASSIONATE about something, people know through your EXECUTION and delivery. They go hand in hand. Also, it's a great way to know if your goal is something you REALLY want or it's something you would "like" to accomplish....test the theory.

With all of that being said, I close by reminding you that no one knows what success looks like to you better than you do! Living life to the fullest is wide open for you to interpret - there is no right and wrong answer - you just have to know what feels right and go after it like there is no tomorrow! It won't just be handed to you (for most), you have to go out there and TAKE IT! Tomorrow is promised to no one - It's time to grab life by the balls and squeeze to get the most out. I know you can do it! SO GO GET 'EM!

And to my loyal readers - I have been going through quite a few transitions in my life and I may not be able to write every Sunday as you have grown accustomed. I too am in the process mentioned above and am still searching for my answers. This blog is not only to share my thoughts and experiences - it is also a learning and growing experience for me too. Thanks as always for your support and remember I love you as much as a photographer loves his camera. Until next time - walk good!
















308