Have you ever dreamed of making a difference in this world?
A friend once told me that all you need to do is to work and work until you become successful and when you’re successful you can make a difference!
I heard several ideas from different people but nothing was as exciting as this – “You are more than what you think you are.”
If I’m more than what I am, this only means that I don’t have to wait to be somebody before I can start doing extraordinary things! I just do what I need to do.
Six years ago, I wondered how I can start a blog. My huge stumbling block is my English – its “barok!” (caveman English). I had the passion to make a difference and do something exciting but I was afraid I don’t have the skills to do it.
Call it foolish but this was also the time when I was writing my book. Although it took me eight times to re-write my book before I had the courage to show it to a publisher, writing blogs was very helpful in the process of finishing the book. It kept me to stay focus in my path to achieve my purpose – to help people handle their finances with a faith perspective.
If I didn’t have the guts to start doing what I’m doing today, I would still be day dreaming until today. That is frustrating!
A person who lives an inspired life is not afraid to do something bigger than life itself.
When you cultivate a deep sense of faith in God and you use your God given abilities, nothing can stop you for succeeding in all your pursuits and living a fulfilled life.
You have to believe in yourself and you have to believe in God who allowed you to be where you are. You may be tempted to do the wrong things and select the wrong choices but don’t forget that you are placed in that situation for a purpose and God’s purpose is always good for us and for everyone!
I believe God, who is omnipotent, gave us the free will to choose our decisions in life. But through His omniscience, He already knows what we are going to choose. This is why we have to put our trust in God especially when we are tempted to take short cuts.
Remember, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
God is not kidding in the scripture when He says, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'” (Jeremiah 29:11)
God has pre-written and pre-planned that every chapter of the story of your life be complete, leaving not one chapter incomplete or unfulfilled. So it matters very much to Him how each chapter turns out, because He has an expected end that is always good only if we just do what we need to do.
There was a time when I do everything on my own. Today, I surrender all my decisions to God. Yes, I plan, I set big dreams and goals but I rely on God for everything.
The scripture says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)
When you are facing a very difficult decision or challenge, humble yourself and pray. This was not easy for me because I’ve always been a proud person. But now I’ve learned to always consult God because God’s thoughts are not my thoughts and God’s ways are not my ways. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.” (Isaiah. 55:9)
So whatever situation or question you have in life, God has an answer and He has a way out already pre-planned for you!
With much conviction I can say that it is only through God’s grace that I’m still writing blogs. My qualification as an aspiring inspirational writer – I failed in my English class twice in college and I failed several times in life. I never thought that I would still be writing blogs after six years. From my weaknesses I became strong. I became strong not because of myself but because I have a strong and powerful God who believes in me.
I believe that those who take time to strengthen themselves will be the strongest and that it is only through improving one’s self through the grace of God that one could ever hope to improve the lot of others.
You have to strengthen your character, develop resilience in times of adversary and live with courage because courage allows you to run your own race. Courage allows you to do whatever you want to do because you know that it is right. Courage gives you the self-control to persist while others failed. Ultimately, the degree of courage you live will determine the amount of fulfillment you receive.
For me, it was courage that gave me the guts to do what I need to do – to enter the “Zone of the Unknown.” It was not easy and it is very painful. But it was the pain that taught me so much. It is the pain of being ridiculed, the pain of being rejected, the pain of being insulted and the pain of being belittled.
For many who have tried, it is the pain that causes them to stop. Reality made me ask this question many times – “why do I need to waste my time doing something to hurt myself. I am comfortable to where I am so why bother.” For me, this is another way of saying – I am afraid.
Remember, fear is nothing more than a mental monster you create. The more you fear, the more they grow!
Think about it, no experience whether it is public speaking or working on a commission or asking a boss for a raise or walking alone in the beautiful beach on a moonlit night is fearful. It is your thinking that makes it so.
The best way to overcome fear is to confront the things you fear. Overcome the fears that are stopping you to do the right things and be joyful – always!
People who made and impact in our world have put off their short-term pleasure for the sake of long term fulfillment. Courageous people tackle their weakness and fears head on, even if going into the zone of the unknown brings them pain and discomfort.
Happiness comes through progressive realization of a worthy objective. When you are doing what you truly love to do, you are bound for deep contentment.
You need to spend less time on those things that are less important. Give yourself time to achieve those meaningful endeavors even if it requires you to step out of your comfort zone. It may be risky and painful but if this is the way to have a more fulfilled life, you have to choose and do what you need to do!
In my case, although I have grown so much since I started writing blogs I still have a lot to learn. I am not a perfect person and I will never be but I continue to dream.
No one is ever too young or too old to have dreams.
Finally, to all my friends who enjoys reading my blogs, thank you so much!
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” – Mahatma Gandhi
And always remember, “You are more than what you think you are.”
God is the greatest!