Last week we discussed John Maxwell's book Put Your Dream to the Test and benefited from Dr. Maxwell's insight to owning your own dreams and persisting past others opinions of what is correct for your life. This week we'll talk about a surprising concept, The Reality Question. What? Reality....I thought this was about dreaming.....Read on.
Dreams, by definition are not supposed to start with reality. They are the products of imagination and creativity. But that also presents a problem. Is a dream worth pursuing if it has no chance of becoming reality? Dr. Maxwell doesn't think so. Many people, including parents, educators, motivational speakers and the like have said, "You have the ability to attain whatever you seek." What a crock, states Maxwell (and I agree!). We do need to aim high, however we don't have the ability to attain whatever we seek. That is not reality.
If you have doubts about this, think about the popular reality show, American Idol. Tens of thousands of people try out, but only the very best -- and some of the very worst -- get a chance to audition before the judges. Some of these contestants are clueless about themselves and their abilities. They sing off key, screech, bellow and howl. They tell everyone how proud they are about their talent -- even those who have never sung in public before. And when they are told they aren't good enough by professional judges in the entertainment industry, they become indignant. One has to wonder where these auditioner's friends and family are? Hasn't anyone ever told them the truth about themselves? Hasn't anyone ever given them a reality check?
Believing in a dream isn't enough. Desperately wanting it isn't enough. Being passionate about it isn't enough. Are these contestants who are without the right talent to be professional singers going to achieve their "dream" on American Idol? No! Why? Because their dream and reality have never met.
People who are successful in the long run don't leave anything to chance. They focus on what they can do, and then they do it.
IS YOUR DREAM BUILT ON YOUR REAL STRENGTHS?
The first step to facing reality requires you to look at yourself realistically. If you've been told that you're capable of doing anything you set your mind to -- and you believed it -- you're not being realistic. On the other hand, if you've been told you'll never amount to anything -- and you believed it -- you're not being realistic. You need to acknowledge where you have talent -- and where you don't. Do you know your strengths? Do you play to your strengths to achieve your dreams?
When you build your strengths, the activities using those strengths come more easily to you. Maxwell refers to this as the law of least effort.
The law of least effort is about finding your true purpose and your true areas of excellence. When you follow what is natural for you, it becomes easy to live your life's purpose. Ask yourself the question, "What would I want to work at for a very long time, even if I wasn't getting paid for it?"
Only when you focus on the reality of your strengths will you reach your dreams. Important advice when one considers how quickly life goes by.
Be sure to buy a copy of Put Your Dream to the Test to get the whole story on turning your dreams into reality. The book is available at www.amazon.com. Thanks to Dr. John C. Maxwell for this inspirational book!
Have a Great Week!
Jerry |
