Face your fears and conquer them. Fear is a monster that dwells within all of us. It robs us of our dreams. Fears are like shackles. Fear of failure, fear of looking foolish, fear of ridicule, fear of rejection―all paralyze and keep us from moving forward.
It takes courage to let go of fear and focus. We must focus on what we have―skills, experiences, wisdom, relationships, mentors, etc. Know that on the other side of those fears are our dreams. Perhaps your dream is freedom―freedom to realize potential, to live happily, to define our own destiny, or simply to live with inner peace. Freedom lives on the other side of our fear.
Do you ever feel that something important to you isn’t working in your life but you don’t know how to change it?
Perhaps it’s your career, business, relationships, or lack of a clear vision and purpose. My story and poem below may help you to see an opportunity to create the life you really want.
How writing a poem during a time of crisis changed my life…
I was stuck in a career that was wrong for me from the very beginning of a long and unhappy 25 years while working in the healthcare field. During that time I felt trapped. I kept trying to make it work by going back to school, getting more training and advanced degrees, and changing jobs. After 25 years I was more miserable than ever. Then one day my boss gave me gift when she laid me off. Although it was painful at the time, losing that job was truly a blessing in disguise. Over the next few weeks as I went through the motions of looking for another job, I felt confused and depressed. I knew I was never going to be happy as long as I was doing the same type of work. But that was all I knew how to do. Or so I thought.
I couldn’t believe God put me on earth to be so unhappy. I prayed that he would give me a sign and lead me to my real purpose. Oddly enough, as I was looking for a job in the Sunday paper, I came across a poetry contest. I didn’t know why I kept returning to that contest as I was not a poet – nor did I care for most poetry. But I thought that writing about my feelings might help me to figure out what I was put on earth to do. What happened next was extraordinary and life changing.
I put pen to paper and began to write my contest poem, Going Not Where I Know. Then I couldn’t stop writing. It was as if everything I needed to know and do was pouring out of me expressed as rhythmical inspirational verses. Ideas I had never been exposed to through books, mentors or my family were suddenly in my head, telling me to follow my dreams, listen to my heart, let go of fears, take risks and live my own life. This was as close to God as I had ever experienced and I knew I must listen. I wrote for almost three weeks – sometimes 12-14 hours a day. There were days I neglected myself, my home and my family. Finally the day came I will never forget. I told my husband and daughter that I would never return to working as a nurse ever again.
My heart was guiding me to live my dream. Before long I was back in school to learn about the Internet, web design and marketing and to start my own company. That was back in 2000. Since then I have never looked backed with a moment of regret. I only revisit the past to see how far I have come and to inspire others to live their dream too. Here is the poem that was the catalyst to transforming my life.
Going Not Where I Know
A ray of sun emerges, delivering dawn’s new day.
Eyelids heavy strain to open while in my bed I lay.
Thinking of the life I’ve known, the challenges I have faced,
Successes that I thought were mine were finalized in haste.
Routines I’ve come to master in these middle years I fear
Are all that’s left but empty dreams―a fate that’s hard to bear.
Questions pondered in years long passed of who I’m meant to be.
What shall I do? Where shall I go? What is my destiny?
The strength and courage conveyed by time, instilled within my soul,
Implants the confidence that I need to once again feel whole.
I travel many roads in a quest to find my way.
So many paths from which to choose―shall I go on or stay?
Ambivalence can cloud the mind, immobilize with fear.
But not to change is not to gain, yet some they do not care.
Had pioneers not risked and tried, the progress of our time,
Would be a mere illusive dream, but dreamers were sublime.
So now the time has come I see, to make a brand new start.
And hopes and prayers will guide me while I listen to my heart.
A million thoughts of plans to make are racing through my head.
But for now, I’ll stretch and smile and rise out of my bed.
