Things that are worthwhile don't always come easily. In fact, there are often obstacles and challenges when you are pursuing a goal, and sometimes you see these as signs to stop what you are seeking to achieve. What if you were to see, however, these obstacles and challenges as an opportunity to ask yourself a simple question:
"Do you really want to achieve this?"
It is important to acknowledge there isn't a right or wrong answer to this question. Also, you are the only person that knows the outcome that is best for you. Yes, you may seek input from those you trust, however, ultimately the decision needs to be made by you as you are the person that lives with the outcome whether that be to walk away or continue to pursue your dream.
There will be times when the answer is simply "no, I don't want to achieve this" and that is okay. You can choose to not continue and you can also choose what you do next. Do you accept the decision? Do you beat yourself up? Do you think of yourself as a failure? Do you choose to focus on another aspiration? I encourage you to trust yourself and that you made the right decision for you. The past is the past. Choose to let go of the past and move on.
If your answer is "yes, I really want to achieve this" then I suggest taking the opportunity to reassess what you are wanting to achieve. By clarifying your vision you will be able to look beyond the obstacles, and will be open to finding a way forward one step at a time. And if you aren't sure what that first step is then simply choose to lean in, even just a little bit, as the forward momentum will enable you to take the next step, and the next step. Before you know it, as you continue to lean in, more momentum will be gained and you will push through or go around the obstacles that were in place, and you will find you are committed more than you ever were before.
“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the 'other' people.” —Randy Pausch
Remember, when your commitment is being tested that is when you have the choice to dig in your heals and make your dreams come true.
