I am unrealistic. And yet, I think this is one of the most powerful characteristics I have. As Frankl said, we must constantly overestimate ourselves so that we truly become what we can be. Our goals set us apart from the rest. What we truly believe in our hearts that we can do and become. It doesn’t matter what other people think, what they will say about you, because you know. You know in the deepest parts of your bones that you are destined for something great. I have dreams like this. I woke up the other day from a dream I was having about the exact thing I am trying to achieve. It was so real. I felt it under my skin. When I opened my eyes, I thought I was somewhere else living that life. In that moment, I knew that what I am going after right now, is exactly what I am meant to do.
There will be that one time when you find your true calling. There will be that time when you know that you were meant to do “this.” I have had that feeling, and I know precisely that I was meant to write. There has not been a day where I sat down and gone “Ugh I have to write today.” Whether I was having the worst day of my life, or the best day of my life, I was happy to let the words flow out onto the paper for the world to see. Who says I can’t do that forever? Who says that I can’t achieve exactly what I want to achieve? All it matters really is how much drive I have, how much perseverance, and how much sweat equity I am willing to put into it.
Unrealistic. I am fine having unrealistic dreams. I think it is important to be real with other people about things, but that’s for another post. With myself though, and I appreciate other people’s opinions on this matter, but this is precisely how I am living my life. It could have been unrealistic for me a few years ago to believe that I could write a blog, could attract thousands of people, and would turn it into a book. Fortunately, I didn’t think so. The thought of leading a life that is full of inspiration and motivation, and spreading that throughout the world and changing lives may seem like an unrealistic concept to many. But to me, that is as real as rain. And whether I succeed or whether I fail, I will be out there doing it.
One of the best complements I have ever received, and it actually came last night, was that he thought that no matter what, I had this unbreakable optimism…even through failure. That whenever I would fall short of my goal, I was still happy about having learned the lesson…and that I never saw myself as a failure, but rather strove harder to achieve that goal. I was humbled by this, and having it coming from one of my closest friends was even nicer. It is just the way I am. I am incredibly optimistic about things, even if other people see a situation as totally destroyed. I will find a way to make it happen. I know in my heart that this will take me places, not just because of the thought, but because it has already. It has given me the resilience I need to withstand even the stormiest of days and the drive to keep going no matter what.
Overestimate yourself. Reach for the stars. Then, if you only make it to the moon…at least you are 250 million miles closer.
Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project
I used to be recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m no longer positive whether this put up is written through him as nobody else recognise such particular about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!
Very good post and video, thank you for raising my sights!
Loved this post!
I hadn’t ever seen that video… wow.
Very very long comment, but very true. I completely agree with everything you said. Words without action are just words. Thank you for the comment.
There is another side to this story which is more important and relevant for our time, I think.
I speak no falsehoods when I point out that this kind of thing has been said time and time again from kindergarden to best selling books, that you need to encourage people and give them positive thoughts and motivations. Its penetration rate is high; there is little point in deluding ourselves to think that just because people repeat this like it’s profound, they hadn’t actually heard it before. Everybody to their aunt’s second husband’s cat has heard positivity is good.
And yet when we look at the polls and clinical rates, people are getting more and more depressed.
When there is a wind blowing south, you must head north of your location to actually reach there, yes.
But you must also use more ENERGY.
Flying into the wind uses more energy. Aiming higher or going faster so you don’t miss uses more energy. It is the ignorance of energy, that is to say, ACTION, that allows motivational things to be said again and again to little and no long term effect.
In contrary to positive thinking, positive action is something completely missing in the West today. No plan is taken seriously. Everything is put off until another day. Everything is either “I don’t want to do it”, “I hate it”, or “Someone else can do it”. Even in recreation there is no drive for success; videogames’ most common comment is “OP” or “Hax” – complaining.
The belief is that as long as we think positive and have good intentions, things will just come our way. But none of it matters if you don’t act.
If you worry about yawing the plane north when the pilot isn’t even awake and there isn’t any fuel in the tank, you are going to model the world very, very incorrectly.
Action must come first.
And currently, it isn’t. And thus, it never comes.
dude, thinking about it now, the stale crackers I ate last night could have made it across the pacific.
Excellent. Intended or otherwise this is an excellent response to my quibblings of before. I maintain one must be realistic (not trying to grow a third arm, or sail the pacific on a cracker) but yes, make the dream BIG.
Nice Post
whoops!
I love this post !! Brilliant speech !! Thanks for sharing. Follow your heart and your dreams..then you can get everything.
Thank you for this post. I have been pondering over the notion of realism quite a while now, and the relationship it has to optimism. I was writing a post about it this morning relating to an art work I had just found, when I saw this, and felt totally inspired. My ideas came out better thanks to you. 🙂
Agreed. Love this post. I too, am unrealistic.
One thing I noticed. The moon is not 250 million miles from the Earth. Maybe you meant for that to be an abstract figure. I cannot tell.
Technically, the moon is about 240,253 miles from the Earth. Just in case you wanted to know the exact figure (from axis to axis).
go forth and conquer
Agreed.