“There is no passion to be found playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”
Nelson Mandela, 11th President of South Africa

You get what you settle for in life.  Are you living the life of your dreams?  Are you the professional you want to be?  Are you making the money you want to make?  Are you the mother/father/sister/brother/aunt/uncle/provider/team mate/ employee/employer/leader you want to be?

Perhaps a better question to ask is, are you the best you that you’re capable of becoming?  Okay, we’re always in the process of becoming, so I’ll give you some slack on that one.  But are you on your way?  Can you feel your becoming?

Or, are you settling for what others around you and/or your upbringing or current surroundings/conditions have caused you to believe that that’s all you deserve or want?

Perhaps because I live in a rural area, I encounter numerous people with attitudes like this:  “My daddy was a farmer, and that’s all I’ll ever be.  I’m lucky to have a factory job that actually pays the bills.  I’m doing a little better than he did, so even though I’m not completely happy, I’m at least providing for my children the way my parents did for me.”  Some even go as far as to believe that if they do much better than their parents, that they are actually disgracing or demeaning their parents in some way.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, just the opposite it true: When you hold yourself in a position that is less than all you are capable of, not only are you disgracing yourself, but everyone who has ever invested in you. Whether your parents put you through college or just helped you with your homework in elementary school, they likely invested in you in some way.  (And if they didn’t, no big deal – get over it.  That just means you owe them nothing, let alone holding yourself back so that you don’t hurt their feelings!)

Whatever it is you’ve been holding yourself back from doing, whatever the decision is, ask yourself this question:  Which do I choose to be – a person living up to her full potential, or a person who ends up with nothing but excuses?  Then listen to your heart for the answer.

Believe whatever your heart wants to believe.  Your heart knows what you are capable of becoming.  Let your light shine and achieve all that you are capable of being.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Inspiration, Motivation