Why do you keep running away from the thing you want?

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. 

~ Henry David Thoreau

Hey, Lovelies.

Have you ever done that? Avoided or run away from that thing you want? It’s a simple enough question. Today, I’m asking you. Why? Why do you keep running in the opposite direction to the thing you want?

If I could I would sit you down here, on the veranda of my treehouse. I would make you a cup of tea. And then I would tell you this:

Point 1 – None of this matters. Our life is here and gone in the blink of an eye. The things that seem so vitally important to us will be rendered into nothingness and dust by the processes of time. So, in the face of that, have courage. Who cares if your idea is crazy? Who cares what others might think of you? What does it matter if you will fail? One day no-one will remember anyway…

Point 2 – I know I just said it doesn’t matter, but the truth is it matters to you. If it didn’t matter you wouldn’t be all tied up in knots over it. And the whole point of you living YOUR life is to take hold of the things that matter and shape them into a meaningful existence for yourself, one where you can look back and think ‘I did that’. Doing what matters to you makes for a satisfying life. So you need this thing; not for anyone else, not to impress, not to win prizes or have your name in lights – you need this thing to define you, to fulfill you, to forge you into the person you came here to become.

I know it’s scary. But there is something worse than the fear that keeps you running in the opposite direction. The scariest thing is getting to the end of your life without ever having tried, and then running out of time.

Maybe this thing is so important to you (in fact the most meaningful thing in your life – perhaps your very life essence… ) that you fear attempting it. If you hold this thing out in front of you it remains a possibility, but if you try it and fail the dream is gone. And then what will have meaning in your life?

Have you no faith? The Universe never whispers in our ear, our heart never holds a deep desire, unless we have within us the potential to realise that dream.

Don’t talk yourself out of it without ever having tried.

I’ve heard all the excuses.

You fear that you will be successful and then everyone will want something from you and you will lose your freedom, or be under enormous pressure to keep succeeding. If this is you, refer back to Point 1.

You believe that you’re not worthy. You believe that success belongs to others. Or maybe you’re punishing yourself by not striving for this thing.  Perhaps you’re thinking too much about others and not enough about yourself. Refer back to Point 1.

Enough already.  Refer to Point 2.

You know this thing you want is always in the back of your mind, and often in your daily thoughts.  It comes to you in quiet moments, and pops into your consciousness when you least expect it.  Busily you turn away, stuff it down, talk yourself out of it, step around it and come up with another validation for why you’re not doing it, can’t do it, and so on…

All this energy you’re using to run away would be better spent in doing the thing.

All you need to do is start.  No grand gestures, no wild positioning statements, no colossal expectations.

Stop running. Take a breath. Find a place to make a modest beginning, and just start. You don’t even need to look this thing square in the eye. That will come, in time. For now, know that turning to face your dream and engaging with some small part of it is all you ever have to do.

You are here for a reason.  In your heart-of-hearts you know that reason by name. And this world will be the poorer if you never take your place in the sun.

You’re the only one here who can do it. That’s why it’s calling your name.

Stop running.

It’s time to embrace the dream and become who you came here to be.

Consider this blog post a sign from the Universe. Today I am passing in the message. Begin!
Love, warm hugs, and gentle encouragement, Nicole xx