I left home at the age of 17 to join the military. My first question to the recruiter was, “what if there’s a war?” Did I have some fear? Absolutely! I went anyways. Thankful.
Just so happens, there really was a war. I was deployed to the Persian Gulf after September 11th. Our Commanding Office told us to prepare ourselves to be gone for 13 months. Was I afraid? Afraid doesn’t adequately explain what I felt leaving that Baltimore pier. I arrived back on American soil six months later. Stronger and blessed.
I decided to leave the military. Everyone asked me if I was certain of my decision. What if I couldn’t find a job? Did I have fear? I most certainly did. I got out anyways. I was employed before my last day of military service. Grateful.
Obtaining a higher education had always been a goal. I always wanted a degree but never quite saw myself having one. I started undergraduate school. Failed some classes. Took many semesters off. Didn’t take it seriously for many years. Transferred to another school. I earned my Bachelor’s degree seven years later while working full time. I continued on to receive my Master’s degree. It took me another four years. I ended up with two degrees. What fears did I have? I feared I would never finish. I questioned if I was even smart enough. Persistence.
For many years I talked about wanting to have my own business. I had a yearning to be of service, give back and make a difference. I wanted to discover my purpose and the reason why I was put on this earth. I always knew that I wanted to help, inspire, motivate and encourage others to move beyond their circumstances, reach for their goals and dreams and be the best version of self. I decided to quit talking about it and just do it. Was I afraid? Heck yeah! What did I know about business? Was I even capable of such a feat? I did it anyways. Growth and Determination.
And this is only the beginning. This story is just getting started and it’s going to be oh so great.
I say all of this to say…
Don’t let fear stop you. There were many times when I could have decided to let fear dictate my decisions. Instead I stood firmly and continued. There were some times when it did get in the way. But, I kept pressing, kept moving, kept taking action and steps forward. It wasn’t by my will alone, it wasn’t by my own strength. It was always God leading, guiding and directing me along the way. Protecting me, giving me strength, courage and comfort.
I still remember my prayers back then…Lord guide me and direct me on what it is you would have me to do. Many times I would feel lost, confused or uncertain. But that was always my prayer. Prayer works. Even when we can’t see it happening, it works and God is always moving in our favor.
What are you going to do to move forward? What action can you take today to achieve that goal you’ve been talking about for a while now? What do you need to make it happen?
The only thing standing in the way of your biggest goals and dreams is YOU. Make a decision and take action. Don’t spend another moment where you don’t want to be. Don’t know where to begin or start? Get help! Contact me to book a Free Discovery Session to explore how we could work together.
“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside while still alive. Never surrender.” Tupac Shakur