Harvey, Jason - Achieve Anything In Just One Year - Be Inspired Daily to Live Your Dreams and Accomplish Your Goals

DAY

193

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”

— Henry Ford

Chad was only five years old when he was captured in a fire in his apartment building. His mother rushed to retrieve his baby brother from a crib in the bedroom, and when she returned, Chad was gone. He had been too scared to stay put and retreated to the roof to escape the smoke and flames.

A firefighter found him coughing on a ledge twenty-five stories above the ground, and he coached Chad along the narrow ridge and into the safety of a cherry picker where the he was waiting with open arms.

After a tearful reunion with his mother, Chad was interviewed by one of the local TV news crews. They asked him how he was able to have the courage to balance along that thin ledge to safety.

Chad replied simply, “I walked to the fireman.”

Sometimes it’s best not to even look at obstacles. They can be a frightening sight. If you keep your eyes fixed on your goal and continue moving forward, you may never know about some of the close calls you had along the way.

What are some ways that you can concentrate on your goals for success and avoid wasting time and energy worrying about the obstacles along your path? That doesn’t mean that you remain ignorant of the problems you face. The suggestion here is that you give more time and attention to your goals. Obstacles can be frightening, and the more you pay attention to them, the stronger they become. Don’t give them an audience.

DAY

194

“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.”

— Frank A. Clark

That is an interesting quote, isn’t it? What was your initial reaction when you read those words by Frank A. Clark? Your assignment today is to journal for twenty minutes using that quote as a topic. Try to keep your hand moving the entire time. Don’t stop writing, no matter what. One enlightening form of journaling is to keep the pen moving even if you are writing “I don’t know what to write” across the page. Eventually, your honest feelings will emerge if you keep practicing putting pen to paper and don’t give your mind any time off to rest or distract you.

You choose your path in life. Did you pick an easy hike? Did you try to find a route that had few or no obstacles? If the answer is yes, how do you like the journey so far? Are you bored out of your mind? Maybe you feel like you’re walking in circles, because the view never really changes.

You can change your path right now. You can opt for more treacherous terrain if you’re up for the challenge. The bigger the challenge, the greater the rewards. Would you like to travel along an interesting road that is sometimes laced with failure but leads to spectacular views, or would you rather take an easy path that leads nowhere? It’s completely up to you. You are the tour guide on this excursion.

Just remember, if you are not happy with where you are you have the power to alter your trip itinerary. Do you want to travel to new heights, or do you want to go nowhere?

DAY

195

“There seemed to be endless obstacles . . . it seemed that the root cause of them all was fear.”

— Joanna Field

You have been journaling about overcoming obstacles for the last several days. Obstacles do come up in life. That’s something you can count on. How many of them did you create yourself?

Some of the obstacles you face in life are just there. You didn’t put them there. They are a byproduct of living in an unpredictable world. Your challenge is to find a way to overcome them when you encounter them.

But what about the obstacles you create?

You may be thinking, “What? I don’t create obstacles. Why would I sabotage myself?”

Are you sure about that? You might be doubling the obstructions you face by creating obstacles that aren’t really there. Those obstacles are trickier to deal with, because they change shape. They get bigger when your fear grows, and they show up when you feel the most vulnerable. Those are also the obstacles that you have the power to obliterate completely. You don’t have to deal with them. You can zap them out of your life.

Look back at the list of obstacles you made in your journal several days ago. Take a close look at them and try to ascertain whether they are real or a fabrication you created in your mind. If you find out some of those obstacles are a product of your imagination, you can cross them right off your list. Zap their power. They can’t hurt you. You can walk right through them.

DAY

196

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious . . . and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

— Walt Disney

It’s not very productive to look backwards. You can’t do anything about your past. On the other hand, you can do anything you want with your future. Walt Disney was a stunning example of success because he was always moving forward.

Curiosity is a great tool for moving forward, because it lacks judgment. You don’t ask if something is correct or perfect. You ask yourself questions like:

What does that do?

Where does that path lead?

What would happen if I do this?

What would that look like?

What if I looked at it this way?

I know what’s behind door number one. Now what’s behind door number two?

When was the last time you used the tool of curiosity to lead you toward success? Have you asked any of these questions or similar ones lately? Make time to be curious today. Don’t worry about past mistakes. They don’t matter anymore. Keep moving forward. You’ve got an endless supply of doors to open and paths to walk down.

DAY

197

“The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are for what you might become.”

— W. E. B. Du Bois

It’s hard to give up things. Watch any TV game show, and you will see people struggling with it. They can keep the one thousand dollars, or they can go for the big money. What will it be? They sweat and stammer and look back at their loved ones in the audience for guidance. Gosh, a thousand dollars would be nice, but I could become a millionaire if I let go of this cash and take one more risk!

You have to be ready to give up things if you want to make progress. It’s like taking a trip. You can’t bring your entire closet full of clothes with you when you go on vacation. Just take what you need and leave the rest. It’s a good rule to go by on your journey toward success, too. You don’t have to take everything with you. You don’t need it all. There are items that make up what you are today that you can leave behind to make room for what you might become.

What are some of the things you can give up? Well, you certainly have no need for fear. Leave that at home. What about the beliefs you have about yourself that are no longer true? Those are great things to ditch, and your load will be much lighter. Maybe you used to think you were not smart, but recent experience has taught you otherwise. Drop that old belief. Did you use to think you weren’t worthy of success? Well, that’s completely untrue now. Give up that dusty old thing and make room for your new image. Write about what you are willing to give up today for what you might become.