- Image by 姒儿喵喵 via Flickr
Why?
Why can’t you see past who you are to who you could be?
Why is your vision enslaved to a past that you cannot change?
Why can’t you
Take the vacation of your dreams
Design your own lifestyle
Start your own business
Go after the job you want
Break the rules and do it your way
Try without worrying about the results
Do that thing that scares you silly
Take a big leap of faith even if you fall
Why?
Your answers may differ but I guarantee your why’s can be solved with a s single word – Believe.
So again I ask, why can’t you
BELIEVE in YOU?
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January 21st, 2010 on 9:45 am
(blinks) Wow. Not pulling any punches here, are you?
I like that
That whole believing in yourself thing… the biggest lesson that last year, and the rest of my life is teaching me. Lots to learn I feel!
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Karen Swim
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January 21st, 2010 at 10:30 am
Hi Em, nope not pulling any punches!
Our inner critic can be such a meanie that sometimes you have to get really tough back! You my dear have come so far and it has been inspiring to watch you blossom into the immense talent that you possess. Can’t wait to see what you will do this year!
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January 21st, 2010 on 10:04 am
Why not, indeed!
Love this one, Karen!
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January 21st, 2010 on 10:27 am
Bravo – this is THE question, Karen! Each of us needs to keep asking it and examining what’s behind how we answer it…then keep digging for what’s behind, what’s behind. There we will see rays of light that can guide us out from our self-imposed prisons.
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Karen Swim
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January 21st, 2010 at 11:06 am
Jeanne, this really hits the sweet spot of the work you do, leading people through that self-discovery process. I have learned from you to ask the question and then boldly challenge and change the answer. xoxo
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January 21st, 2010 on 4:45 pm
Believing in oneself means also taking responsibility and that is the Y in the road of the Why that you ask. Many people want these things however don’t want to take the responsibility to become who they fully could be because the fear not having others to blame for their state of life.
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Karen Swim
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January 21st, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Hi Mark, I like your analogy of the Y in the road which also invokes the imagery of a fork in the road. As you approach that fork you can choose to leave fear behind and believe or you could choose to continue down the same path. It is my belief that you bear the responsibility for action and inaction, whether or not you realize it. Thanks so much for adding to the discussion!
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January 24th, 2010 on 6:51 pm
I often think about this idea of designing one’s own lifestyle. For many of us, it means defying convention, and that’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s so rewarding! Believing in yourself takes a lot of work, and we all need to believe in each other as well. I think these are two key actions (lifestyle design and belief) that every single person can take to make the world a better place.
Melissa Donovan´s last blog ..Small Business Website Design Tips: 9 Things to Avoid
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Karen Swim
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January 24th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Melissa, your comment about “designing one’s own lifestyle” really hits home with me. I started my business to do that and honestly lost it a little. Last year, I reconnected with that passion and began the tough work of turning off the noise and listening to myself. Defying convention, being yourself, dancing to your own beat, worthy themes to explore wouldn’t you agree?
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January 26th, 2010 on 2:14 pm
Love this, Karen!
It’s definitely a question we should be asking ourselves daily, as we repeatedly encounter the limiting fears and fallacies that prevent us from reaching our full potential.
Thanks for the reminder!
Jeanne
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Karen Swim
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January 26th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Today, at points I have been hitting my head wondering “Why, why, why, can’t I get my schedule back on track?” lol, I needed this gentle reminder myself to ask the right “why” like “why is it so important to be in control?”and “why do you lose it when there’s a change?” *sigh* I am definitely a work in progress.
Karen Swim´s last blog ..Unleash Your Passion for a Perfect Performance
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January 26th, 2010 on 4:49 pm
The fact that you realize you’re a work in progress is what keeps you vital and growing and provides hope for a continually improving future. So, that’s good news, because it’s the greatest attitude one can ever adopt.
We’ll always have setbacks. But, as you say, they simply serve as reminders that we need to get our thinking back on track before we can expect to get our schedules (or anything else) back on track.
Your question about control is a very insightful one and, I suspect, one that can take you far in your journey of self-discovery and perpetual growth and improvement. Learning to “go with the flow,” (aka, accept change) while still maintaining just enough control to keep things running smoothly, is a delicate balance that’s difficult to achieve. Yet, through trial and error–and a hefty dose of courage–we improve in that area, little by little, as we test the waters and see what works.
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