I had the privilege of speaking with 5th graders at a school in Charlotte, North Carolina today about the importance of education and following your dreams. In that 10-minute Facetime conversation, I provided them with three key points that have helped me get so sure in what I want in life, in order to follow my dreams and make them come true, that I felt I should share it with the world.
1. Get specific
You do this by writing down what it is you want in life. Whether you create a vision board or keep a journal, it’s important to put it on paper. You can imagine it in your head all day long and that’s great … but guess what happens? You wander off. Maybe you start thinking about something else or about the practicality of it that you let fear take over and lose sight of what it is you really want. So, when you write it down or put it on paper, a poster or something physical, you hold yourself accountable. You let the universe know what it is you desire and this allows you to master your thoughts and attract all like things.
2. Be kind.
I can’t stress this enough. There are people out there who are going to discourage you. We call these people haters or critics with no credentials. When you encounter someone like this, you need to learn to keep it moving and not strike back. Karma is real, but besides that, when someone is being mean to you and you’re returning the favor of kindness, instead of rudeness, you’re only making yourself look better. In doing so, people will recognize that … usually important people who can help take you from where you are to where you’re trying to go. These people are always watching … trust me ... and they are extremely valuable. It’s not about being fake or acting—it’s about being the change you wish to see in the world. You never know how powerful a smile can be, even to your haters. The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.
3. Never give up.
No matter how thick the mud, how high the mountain or how dark the night … have faith. Don’t give up! There will be doubters, there will be obstacles and there will be setbacks, but if you truly know what it is you want in life and who it is you want to be on the inside and how you want that to reflect on the outside, you mustn’t give up. If you keep it moving and you keep doing things to better yourself and act every day with intention to do good and start operating your life in a way that will allow all the things you want to come to you, you’ll be amazed at how many doors open. And if one closes, two more will open simultaneously and when that happens, learn to walk through instead of sit back and wait for something better to come along. You never know what you’re capable of until you try. Jim Carrey said, “You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” And that, right there, is proof that anything you want in life, you can have. You just have to learn how to think it, be it and do it before it even happens.
