In listening to a recording of a commencement speech that Denzel Washington gave, he spoke about his many failures and his many opportunities to give up, in addition to his phenomenal success. We have all had all three. Amazingly, in this time of celebrating independence, and having the ability to make choices, to take risks, to fail, and to then rise again, we see that risks, hopes, and mostly actions can lead us to those places we had at one point only dreamed of.
Plans can be easy to make. Dreams can be fun to explore and expand yet it is with actions that risks come into play. Through our actions we see not only how credible our dreams, or our plans are, we also get to see how much we are willing to commit to them. We get to see if we are willing and able to get back up when a particular aspect of our vision needs an adjustment or even to be scrapped or changed. The real question is, are we willing to deal with making those changes or do we simply throw the dreams and/or plans out if they don’t work the first time?
Actions, dreams, and commitments, or lack thereof, show us who we truly are or at least where we are in our own personal growth. None of us are done growing until the day we pass, however some are overwhelmed or discouraged when it becomes obvious we’re still only on the way – not “there” yet – wherever “there” is. Perfection? Only successful? Never challenged?
It was in taking those actions that the risks showed up. We know it is not a risk if there is no possibility for failure or even error. Oddly, the risk can be what makes it exciting and makes the win so much greater. The risk can also mean it may require several versions of your dream before the right formula for success is achieved.
Your independence means you are willing to figure it out, as a leader in your own life and your own business. Nonetheless, figuring it out may mean you realize the need to be comfortable asking for help, asking for information, or asking for a helping hand. That is so very different from asking someone else to make it better for you, or to rescue you, to do what needs to be done. Independence says I know there are risks involved and I will deal with them as they appear.
Independence also means you take full responsibility for your choices, your actions, and your responses. It means you are fully aware that no one made you, no one forced you, or guilted you into anything that you didn’t willingly choose to do. We have all made decisions we would not do again with 20-20 vision. So, what did you learn from one that didn’t go as planned? What growth did you achieve? How did it affect future decisions? Cause you to run from them? Cause you to research first? Cause you to create a more detailed plan? No one answer is the right one. Always as with everything in life, what did you learn from any and every experience you had?
Fall in love with the journey, with your ability to define it, and depending upon your risk level, your independence will call you to deep breathe, own it, and then jump into action! Choose your life and your freedom, they are the gifts that make all risks and choices worth it….
Call me if you need help risking, jumping in, or simply having permission to dream. I’m here!!!
