FEAR, DOUBT, PANIC, CONFUSION, JOY,
PRIDE, HOPE, EXHAUSTION, POWERLESSNESS…
are just some of
the roller coaster emotions we experience as parents in the oftentimes scary
role we play, guiding and overseeing our children’s growth.
Being a parent
in the 21st Century is rather a hair raising experience. We tend to
fear for our children. We want for them what we never had. We quite naturally
want to prevent our children suffering and having to find it out the hard way.
We want to steer our children onto the ‘right path’. That is exactly why our
children invariably ignore our advice.
How do we
know which is the right path for them? We are most likely to advocate the
safest path, with the least risks and pitfalls.
I am of the
opinion that our children need to be given the space to find it all out for
themselves without our interference and over protective meddling. We can offer
advice, but they need to trust their own intuition and follow their hearts, without
our overly concerned commentary from the side lines.
Parents, the
world over, have the shared predicament, as we lie awake at night wrestling
with our insecurities, wishing for some assurance that our children will make
it and that they will be alright.
I remember
how exhilarated I felt after writing my first motivational piece about 5 years
ago. I had an inner glow of accomplishment and my soul felt alive in a new way.
Having shared my writing with my close inner circle of family and friends, I eagerly
awaited some positive feedback only to be knocked sideways by some rather harsh
criticism. Luckily for me, I put on my tough-girl mask to shield myself from
the onslaught. I went into protect mode. I had to. My new found writing had had
such a profound catalytic effect on my psyche. I knew instinctively for the
first time in my life that this is what I needed to do. I had a dream and a
vision to be realised, which no one but me could feel and intuit.
I knew
inwardly that I had a contribution to make to society and gratefully I followed
my gut, because I am now a self-published author and am about to print my
second 1000 books. I give regular talks and workshops and none of this would
ever have happened without steadfastly believing in myself and initiating the positive
steps to action that I have diligently and stoically taken. My road is not a
walk in the park, as it may appear from the side lines. It is a lonely, solo
road. I put in hours behind the computer, sometimes burning the midnight oil. I
am my own publicity department, creative department, ideas person, teacher,
guru, and so on. I have to motivate myself every single day to keep going
forward and persevere in the direction of my dreams.
There are
days when I wonder if I will get there and if I have missed the plot, but a
small inner voice keeps encouraging me to commit to just take one more step.
Yes, there
are easier ways of making a living, but working for a boss just wouldn’t cut it
for me. Money has never been my prime motivator. Yes, there are times when I
think of throwing in the towel and quitting and then some mail will light up my
inbox with a testimonial from a reader, sharing how my book, FORGIVENESS – your gift of love to yourself, has helped him/her, and that just
gives me the inspiration to continue forging ahead.
DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR
DREAMS.
Listen to your heart’s desires, the spark that ignites
your soul.
Sit with
your dreams and strategize how you are going to bring them into
reality. It might mean finding a menial job in the interim to pay the bills and
fund your night studies.
Research and study your desired field. Learn from your
competitors and professionals who have made it. Knowledge is power. You need a solid foundation from
which to build your destiny.
Choose bite
sized steps you can take in the short and medium term. Choose the first 3 steps which you need to implement and give yourself a time limit.
Keep your list close by as a constant reminder of your
goals which need to be actioned.
As soon as
the first three action steps are completed, write down the next three and so
on.
Have a long
term goal, but keep your focus on the immediate, doable steps. Focusing on the
end result can feel rather daunting. As long as you are doing the work every
day, the big picture will evolve and fall into place.
Work on your dreams relentlessly.
Keep taking the next step.
Don’t listen to the doubters along
the way. Their negativity will choke you.
Keep your eyes on your path and your
goal in your mind’s eye.
GOOD LUCK!
YOU CAN MAKE IT!
Have a
fantastic week.
Lots of love
Nicolette
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