I am not competing with others or comparing myself to the world. Life’s journey is not about what is, but rather about what it possible. The belief that anything imaginable can be reached. Isn’t that what makes dreams?
After years of life’s adversities, it is easy to forget how to dream. It is easy to forget the person that we once believed we could’ve become. It is too easy to lose faith and trust in ourselves and slip into a habit of being a chameleon, blending with mediocrity. Hiding from eyes that judge and destroying any chance of ever facing a reflected image of failure.
Unknowingly, we reject those exact chances that can change us, teach us, lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and our abilities. How much have we missed in the shadow of self doubt? To catch a glimpse of our own potentials we must first gather up the courage to give it our all, take pride in our work and effort, risk a fall to leave regret in the dust.
It feels good to work. Nothing can amount to the self satisfaction of knowing that today, in that one moment when you could have given up you chose instead to perform your absolute best. It may not have been perfect, but it was better than what you would or could have done in the past.
New steps and new material require greater concentration and effort, and it’s at times extremely frustrating. But “if it isn’t hard, just comfortable for you, then how will you improve?” You wouldn’t. It would stay constant; it would be like painting over the same lines on a piece of paper from first grade years later. Life is supposed to be a challenge and there are too many more opportunities in every day to waste them on thinking about what we can’t do.
Because keeping our eyes looking forward will get us to our goals much faster, and easier. My teacher told me, “Hard work is the best remedy for frustration.” It is true.
I am competing with myself and with the person that I will become in the future. Life is not about what I can do, but what my potential offers I will be able to do. I believe that what lies beyond the imagination can be reached.
Because then, I am free to dream.
Apologies for quite the sappy piece, today was a great day in the cloud that had been not such a nice week and I felt obliged to record this welcome turn of events.
-thebookybunhead
thebookybunhead 
Thank you very much for this encouraging post. I do battle with many things in my life such as trying to master the violin and battling with a chronic illness which comes and goes. Sometimes, it can get quite hard to keep the faith but a few weeks ago I heard a fabulous talk. She said that when we set goals, we already visualise ourselves reaching the goal. Then we get started and appreciate the often huge gap between where we are and where we would like to be and often give up. She then suggested that at these times, we look back to where we have been so we can appreciate how far we have come and that then helps to motivate us. It has helped me with the violin. Thought it was great advice. xx Rowena
That is certainly another way to motivate ourselves. Sometimes it’s just better for me personally though, to keep my eyes looking forward. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I’m glad you found this post relatable.