Imagine more, not less
Debbie Millman on getting out of your own way:
I discovered these common, self imposed restrictions are rather insidious, though they start out simple enough. We begin by worrying we aren’t good enough, smart enough or talented enough to get what we want, then we voluntarily live in this paralyzing mental framework, rather than confront our own role in this paralysis. Just the possibility of failing turns into a dutiful self-fulfilling prophecy. We begin to believe that these personal restrictions are, in fact, the fixed limitations of the world. We go on to live our lives, all the while wondering what we can change and how we can change it, and we calculate and re-calculate when we will be ready to do the things we want to do. And we dream. If only. If only. One day. Some day.
Every once in a while — often when we least expect it — we encounter someone more courageous, someone who choose to strive for that which (to us) seemed unrealistically unattainable, even elusive. And we marvel. We swoon. We gape. Often, we are in awe. I think we look at these people as lucky, when in fact, luck has nothing to do with it. It is really about the strength of their imagination; it is about how they constructed the possibilities for their Life. In short, unlike me, they didn’t determine what was impossible before it was even possible.
[…]
If you imagine less, less will be what you undoubtedly deserve. Do what you love, and don’t stop until you get what you love. Work as hard as you can, imagine immensities, don’t compromise, and don’t waste time. Start now. Not 20 years from now, not two weeks from now. Now. — Debbie Millman in Look Both Ways: Illustrated Essays on the Intersection of Life and Design
hat tip: Maria
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10 comments
Good reminder. Thank you for this bonus Sunday boost. ;)
you’re welcome! ;o)
Exactly.
:: thumbs up ::
And sometimes you have been telling yourself for so long that you can't be that person that those around you start to believe it too. Once an individual shifts thinking there is then the job of gaining support from those who are closest to you. In time I guess they will believe it too!
it can be very hard for the people around you to accept your new idea of yourself. that’s probably something we should explore in a future post.
I would love any insight on that topic!
adding this to my list of future post ideas! ;o)
Very insightful blog thank you :)
thank you, claire. :)
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