Dandelions and Daydreams

I think that I have always been a little bit scared of success. Every time I resolve to save money (for example), my inner brat comes out and we go on a shopping trip. I have resolved to get healthier, so Tina (that’s the name I’ve given to my inner brat) and I go out and eat cake and drink candy coffee.

I don’t like to fail, but I will get almost to my goal and then I trip myself up. When it comes down to it, I am afraid of success. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I think, “If I succeed, others will expect me to do it every time.”

I also fear putting my everything out there only to find out that everything I have isn’t good enough. If I jeopardized my success, then I haven’t put everything on the line. If I am not good enough, it’s because I didn’t try my very best.

Finally, I think that Tina, my inner brat, is afraid that if I start to succeed regularly, I will have to become an adult and take responsibility for my actions.

If I don’t fight for my success, who will? The most important step is recognizing that I am a threat to my own success. If I know to watch out for certain behaviors, I can nip it in the bud. If the result is that Tina the inner brat doesn’t have a voice anymore…success is worth it.

photo: It’s Greg CC-By-ND

I’ve been trying to write this post all day. It has run around in circles several times even before I sat down at my computer to actually type. Here I am at the end of the day trying one more time.

One of the most important things I have ever realized is that God created us with a purpose, and he gave you your passions and desires to push you towards fulfilling that purpose.

Do you have a personal mission statement? Do you have a vision for your life? Do you know what makes you happy?

I’ve met a lot of people who don’t even know what their dreams are, and if you don’t know what you are aiming at, you will hit nothing at all. If you want to go somewhere in life, you have to aim for it.

When you know your values, you can evaluate any opportunity based on how it lines up with your values, dreams, and passions.

The worst enemy to living by your values is the hope of a perfect tomorrow.

“When I turn 16…” or “I can’t wait to graduate…” “…to get married…” “…to have kids…” “…to buy a house…” “…when the kids grow up…” “…when we retire…” I am sure that I am not alone.

I have spent most of my life wishing my days away, only when I reached the goal where I thought a perfect life would be, life still isn’t perfect. One of my greatest challenges is to accept life as it is today, and live today, imperfect though it may be.

Let me be a little more concrete.

Ever since Brenton and I got married, I have always wanted to open our home to guests. First we were too busy–with college. Then we were moving. Then we were settling in, Then our house was always a mess. Now it’s too small.

If I keep following that logic, I will wait until life is completely tranquil and we buy a house that comes with a built in maid!

Here’s what I’m getting at:

Don’t wait! Today’s not perfect, and it will take a little creativity to do what you are dreaming of. Tomorrow won’t be perfect either. Use your imagination and figure out how to fit your values into your life today.

I promise, you’ll be glad you did.

If you’d like to join me on this journey of living by my values, make sure you subscribe to Dandelions and Daydreams in a reader or by Email so you don’t miss a single post.