I can remember vividly the day that I resigned from my engineering career. I was scared. I really enjoyed my career, but something was missing. I felt empty. I wanted to make a difference in the world — especially on the college campus.
I decided to make a change in my life. I knew that I could not keep doing the same old thing and expect something new to happen. So I took the plunge. I had to face my fears. I had to face many critics. But at the end of the day, I knew it was the right thing to do.
Original Photo by Nathan O’Nions (cc)
Many of us have dreams locked inside of us. But we never take that first step. We settle. We play it safe. We make excuses. We try to please everyone. But deep down inside, you know you need to take a leap of faith! So… why wait? Start making a difference today!
Here are four steps you can take:
Step #1: Face Your Fears
Fear and faith have the same definition — it is the belief that what you can’t see will happen. Fear tricks you into believing that you will be alone and fail. Faith encourages you to trust God and believe that He is in control. Which word describes you — fear or faith? Write down your fears. Fear loses its power when you name it. Bring these fears to God, and ask Him to replace it with faith.
Step #2: Stop the Excuses
Here’s the truth — there is never a good time to start. There will always be an excuse. You can tell yourself all sorts of convincing things. “I’m not ready. I’m not worthy. Other people will make fun of me. I am too old (young). I have kids. I am not married yet…” The list is long. But if you want to make a difference, you will need to drop the excuses. Now, is the time. Don’t waste your life.
Step #3: Reframe Failure
Are you going to fail? Probably. But failure is not a bad thing. You will learn from your mistakes. I certainly did. Consider yourself to be a mad scientist. Experiment, take risks, and reframe your failure as progress. I’ve heard it said that “failure is never fatal, but failure to change might be.” Don’t worry if you make mistakes. Live out your full potential. Failure cannot stop you.
Step #4: Take Your First Step
Now that you have addressed fear, excuses, and failure, it is time to take that first step! Yes, your dream of making a difference in the world will feel overwhelming. But break it down to that first step. What needs to happen first? Like the old saying, “When eating an elephant, just take one bite at time…” You will never reach your dream if you don’t start. Why wait? Start small today.
