One of life’s ironies is that we allow our life to be influenced, modeled and directed by others. While it is good to take parental advice, follow the discipline and rigors taught by teachers and elders, be attentive to the suggestions of seniors and mentors at the workplace, we lose our individuality and ability to follow our dreams and furrow our own path if we do not allow our own thoughts to take center stage in our life. Yes, it is possible that when we dare to be independent, there could be the risk of failure, of criticism and of confusion but it is offset by the thrill of exploring, of having given dreams wings and there is definite possibility of success when we translate imagination into effort.
It is not merely the brilliance of individuals that brings about progress, revolution and discovery but it is the ability to propel and channelize the ideas, imagination and creativity into daring, tangible and concrete action that bears fruits. Pause for a moment and imagine the numerous interests that you had in your formative years. Perhaps you still nurture a few new dreams to pursue. Did you want to be a scientist, an astronaut, a fireman, an engine driver, a computer wizard, an industrialist, a fashion icon, a mechanic, a farmer, a writer / dramatist ???? Ask yourself what efforts you made to get a better understanding of the fields of your interest. Did you make some serious efforts to test your skills in the filed of your passion? Did you get discouraged because of the snide comments, sharp rebuke or constant berating of some key influencers in your life? Were you firmly directed to follow the beaten path? Did you succumb to the real and imaginary pressures around you?
Actually it is never too late to add color to your life. After all it is your life and you have to take responsibility for managing it, improvising on it and making it an exhilarating one. So if you fancied yourself as singer what stops you from atleast singing at a Karaoke night? What is holding you back from penning your dream story or poem? So you want to visit foreign lands; start by zooming on the places you want to visit, work out your budget and now you are already half to realizing your dreams. The key to adding color to your life is in using all the available crayons, color pencils, paints and brushes to start coloring. Don’t wait to find the ideal mood, the right canvas, the perfect colors or for your imagination to conceive the exact drawing. Leverage your inspirations with a little perspiration, loads of obsession and infatuation and see a drab life turn exotic and colorful.
Try these:
Simply select 8-15 objects that are around you. Re-arrange them / use them to create something different. If nothing else change their location so that the environment looks different and more pleasant. Good start!
Write down the most frequent criticism / critical feedback that you get from family, friends and colleagues. Now write down an action plan to work on changing the image you project so that those who criticize you will notice the change and applaud you for it.
Allocate a small sum of money each month as ‘ my surprise money’. Use this to buy something to surprise someone or family members or office colleagues. Notice the joy you bring to them and feel it reverberate within you also.
This post is courtesy www.actspot.com
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