Dare to Dream and Defy the Odds

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” — Albert Einstein

Setbacks and challenges may be rough, but they also provide tons of lessons and growth opportunities.

Previously, I was…

• told I had broken English in the way I speak
• rejected for several job promotions
• told I cannot sing for a group
• told I cannot write professional business email
• judged for a failed relationship with my first girlfriend
• made to believe I’m not called to be what I wanted to become
• alone rejoicing over a personally triumphant feat
• betrayed and backstabbed by a former close friend
• ignored, insulted and stereotyped by peers and superiors
• left hanging in midair so many awful times

Photo from http://www.davidbork.com

So I matured early in the way that I think, communicate and relate with people because of the tough lessons I learned. (Thank God I still look young for my age though.) I had to cope the best way I could. I doubled my efforts to be the best I can be (and I’m still a work in progress).

There were many obstacles along my path but those became my stepping stones towards my dreams getting fulfilled one by one.

It’s easy to dream big but it takes a lot of courage and grit to pursue your dreams. There will always be distractions and detractors to conquer along the way. 

In every field of industry, there are gatekeepers and permission-givers. These are people in authority who may approve or reject you for certain positions.

Sometimes you need “connections” to get to where you want to be. But more often, you need to be resourceful and find a way to get past these permission-givers and reach your objectives.

These are three suggestions you may use to achieve some of your goals this year:

1. Don’t listen to everything everyone will say. Good counsel and guided experience is often necessary. But there are also times when you might get confused, or get lost on your way when you listen to what everyone is saying. Different people often have contrasting opinions.

2. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. Make mistakes, or start over again if needed, especially if it’s not a matter of life-and-death situation. Your dream, after all, is between you and God. And if it’s really His will, He will always make a way.

3. Don’t feel sorry for standing up for what you believe is right, true, and best for you. You can’t please everyone anyway, so might as well fight for your convictions. Trailblazers and trend-setters are like eagles and lions. They don’t flock and they nearly always go for the adventure alone.   

So if you’re now ready to live life to the full, dare to dream and prepare to defy the odds!

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” — Sir Edmund Hillary