You Have To Want It, More Than You Are Afraid Of It

You have to want it more than you are afraid of it not happening. In 2013, I learned a great deal about myself. But most importantly, I learned what I really do want from this life. And as I sit here tapping away at the keys at 3 am, I realize that 2014 needs to be dedicated to something besides “just doing” what I have learned in the past year. It needs to be devoted to being the most extraordinary version of myself I can possibly be.

Every day, we have opportunities to grow, change, and rise to the occasion. What may just seem like another day is actually an opportunity to do something fantastic. True, most of the days we have may start off as normal, but our plans that we have for ourselves, if implemented, can truly turn something mediocre into something, well, extraordinary. It takes effort. Lots and lots of effort. Everything in the world is going to be pushing you to just stay the same. Because that’s where the majority of us are. We live in the middle. Not in the sense of  classes etc, but in the sense of what we are doing with ourselves. When we start moving towards the edge, that’s when things become exciting. However, at the same time, that’s when the uncertainty of the future becomes greater and greater. You have to decide for yourself if you are okay living in a land of uncertainty yet committed to total belief in what you are doing. Trust me, it’s tough.

Call it the universe, call it God, call it whatever you want to call it, but the fact remains the same. You are here for a reason and you have talents that need to be drilled into skills. What ends up happening though is that we worry too much about what other people think or believe that what we are doing isn’t going to happen because of one reason or another. Most of the time, great ideas die with the people who they live in. People take their dreams to the grave and never see them through because they are just too afraid. Fear is the primary killer of dreams. This could be fear of failure, fear of opinions, fear of ridicule…but nonetheless, fear drives one to shrink in the opportunity they have.

It would be stupid for me to say to not be afraid. Anyone that tells you that they aren’t scared ever should probably see a doctor. It’s what you do after being afraid that counts. That’s where courage comes in. Courage is that insane  20 seconds after being deathly afraid where magic happens. It’s completely fine to be afraid, but like I have said before, you have to want it more than you are fearful of it. You have to decide that it’s what you want to be white-hot and passionate about and then go for it. Without that decision, you will squander back and forth for eternity. Decide.

Be driven by everything and everyone telling you no. Make that your fuel. Don’t let it bring you down. Let it motivate you to keep going. The people who make the biggest difference in this world are the ones who don’t let the outside world effect their souls belief in their dreams. Protect your dreams with dragons, guards, and trolls. Do whatever you can to keep them safe and harbor that belief. You would be surprised how easy it is to let a voice or an opinion dig their way into your cave and then slowly burn everything within. Only let it people and words that continue your infectious belief in your purpose.

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project