Now for a Little Inspiration

So first blog post I talked about science which is a huge influence in my life, but I have another passion for spreading messages of self empowerment.   I can feel the groans coming, I'm not that type of inspirational speaker I promise you...  No chanting, no song and dance, just some blunt facts presented in a different view with me hoping they help. 

People often forget the power of choices.  There are always choices to be made; one is never forced to do anything.  While we are often presented with choices we don’t want to make or feel that the only option is one we would never take, the choice is open to not take that course.  It is an active choice to take life-changing situations and turn them into something positive.  It is a little like focusing on the silver lining at the edge of a dark cloud; there is plenty of darkness, but the lining might be a learning experience, or even a fresh start.  Many choices appear as downright terrifying.   Starting over in life gets feels increasingly difficult as one grows older.  But life never goes to plan, it is one of our gifts as humans to be able to adapt.  People often look at situations in a close-minded and uni-dimensional mode.  This is probably the result of many years of public education, where one is taught to stick to the facts.  Any kid who has unique and radical ideas is rapidly labeled as weird, and soon learns that the price of fitting in is to forget their silly dreams.  All too often we are limited by a preconceived view of what might be possible.  We choose to believe in experts, like doctors who say you will never walk again, or critics, who say your book will never become a best seller. 

What changed from those long-ago days when we were little kids and everyone wanted to be the president, an astronaut, an Olympian, or to cure cancer? Why is it that the process of growing up seems to be accompanied by the loss of a belief in one’s self and in huge dreams?  While it is true in sports that only one team can win (I am still holding out for a Super Bowl win Charger fans), nearly all of life is not reaching the top, but in obtaining satisfaction from working hard at dreaming big and becoming the best person you can be. Along the route, for every door that closes another opens, presenting new opportunities at every turn. Feeling satisfied that you have given it your all, beats that other feeling of disappointment in never having tried. So channel your inner 6-year-old, who believes that anything can happen and dream big, really big.

Plenty more where that came,
Cass