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For example, I’ d always assumed I couldn’ t make a living as a creative writer. I grew up in Brooklyn, N. Y. in an orthodox Jewish family.
I was told,“ You’ re going to write? You’ re going to starve!” So, I became a lawyer instead. I slogged through Harvard Law School and onto partnership track of a major firm. It never occurred to me that“ you can’ t make a living at doing what you love” was a confidence issue or a negative thought.
To me, it was“ just being realistic.” Everyone, including a career counselor, thought it was“ common sense” to squelch my true desires in life. Everyone believed in limits. No one realized it might just be limited thinking.
I left that painful job, career, and identity and walked into uncertainty. And now, as career / success coach and speaker with four best-selling books out and a worldwide following, I can tell you those original“ practical” thoughts didn’ t lead me to safety and certainty. They guided me towards self-repression and meaninglessness. I felt empty and terrified. And had I continued to doubt myself, I would have missed this life I’ m born to live. I don’ t want that happening for you in your marriage, career, health or anywhere.
THE CULTURE IS PESSIMISTIC. BUT YOU CAN BE A MYSTIC.
We’ re encouraged to doubt our wild, pure strength and, instead, bank on the times when we lose faith, and“ come back to earth.” We trust cynicism as though it’ s wisdom, the voice of“ experience” instead of embitterment. We don’ t see anxieties as flights of imagination. We see those as possibilities.
But here’ s what’ s true. Your dreams can take off at any minute. You can quit drinking this time. You can write a screenplay that Sundance produces. You can meet the love of your life, yes, at your age or with your ridiculous issues. It happens. But only when we feed the light within us.
WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH
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