Anything is Possible, Sort Of
Some people are raised hearing that they can grow up to be anything in the world that they want to be.
At the opposite end of that spectrum, there are those who were told the exact opposite, to “stop dreaming” and to “live in reality”.
I’m sure that both sets of advice were meant to be helpful, and were based on experiences of the advisor.
It likely is possible that you can be almost anything you want to be, if you put in the hours (and have talent and luck on your side). Note: Definitely consider reading the book, “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, to get more insights on that trifecta.
The danger of the “be anything you want to be” mantra, is that too many people get stuck in a dream (e.g., of being an athlete, actor/actress, musician, singer, etc.), a dream that never seems to materialize regardless of whether or not they have expended the necessary effort and determination.
The sad part is when they awaken to the realization that some things aren’t meant to be. They then see how much time has passed and they don’t know what to do with themselves.
Probably, better advice would be a combination of the two. “Do what you want, but be sure to have a healthy dose of reality with it.” Be confident. Be passionate. Be realistic. Be honest with yourself.
Don’t invest too heavily in an illusion, yet still challenge yourself with things that you don’t think you can do. Once you hit those stretch goals, then keep raising your standards and setting higher goals. And, don’t forget to appreciate your blessings along the way.
I’ve always felt that it’s important to have a backup plan, a safety net, not because you plan on needing it, but to protect yourself in case things don’t go as planned. It’s kind of like insurance.
Might you be more motivated if you knew you had nothing to fall back on? Maybe so. Maybe not. Either way, I’d say that having a Plan B just gives you another option. You don’t want to be a quitter or to bail out too soon, but sometimes you might just be glad you had that parachute. (Note: If you have time and this interests you, check out this book by Seth Godin: “The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit (and When to Stick).”
So, do you believe you can be anything you want to be? Have you travelled that path?
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For a list of all posts in this series go to: Finding Purpose (actual links will be posted as each post becomes live.)
