It's About the Journey

Today I was prepared to be productive and finalize the second chapter of my thesis. Unfortunately, after eight hours of reading books and numerous articles all I have to show for my efforts is two lousy paragraphs and a messy desk.

As I was packing things up, discouraged and frustrated, I was reminded of this quote:

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow. -Mary Anne Radmacher

Life is full of days where things don't go as planned, but that shouldn't get in the way of you accomplishing your goals. Don't let a setback deter you from chasing your dreams. Life is about the journey just as much as it is about the destination, and I can assure you the journey will be filled with potholes, traffic jams, dead-ends, and detours along the way. But all of the experiences build character, and I promise the destination will be worth every curve ball thrown your way.

If you've experienced a frustrating day, week, month, or year, don't give up. Take heart knowing that tomorrow is a chance to try again. Don't lose sight of the destination, but remember to appreciate the lessons learned along the way.

Despite feeling defeated and frustrated, I can assure you that I will be back to work on chapter two again tomorrow.
 

Living Life Intentionally

It seems like I'm asked about my plans after graduate school on a fairly regular basis. And to be honest, I don't know the answer to that question. There are so many things that I want to do that I can't pinpoint one specific thing.

People say your 20s are supposed to be the time of your life - time for you to figure out who you are, what you want to be when you "grow up" and a chance for you to establish your own beliefs. I'm only 23 so I don't know a lot about being a 20-something, but here's what I do know. While my 20s may be a chance for me to figure out who I want to be and what I want to do with my life, I refuse to let these years pass by without carefully considering the decisions I make. I want to live my 20s intentionally, with clear goals of what I hope to learn in the next seven years. I want to take advantage of these "golden" years, knowing that the choices I make will have a powerful impact on determining who I am and what I will contribute to this world.

Are you a 20-something who is trying to figure out what to do with your life? That's great! I encourage you to consider what you are passionate about, what motivates you and what you want to be remembered for. I challenge you to be intentional with the choices you make, the organizations you're involved in, internships and jobs you apply for, and even the people you spend time with. The choices we make during this time will have a profound impact on our future - personally and professionally. Don't let these years pass you by without letting them mold you into the person you are meant to be.

So while I don't know what I want to do after I graduate yet, I can assure you that I've set some goals for things I want to accomplish and learn before I turn 30. I am also planning to make more intentional decisions regarding my future. I hope you'll join me on my journey and make your 20s some of the best years of your life!

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." -Henry David Thoreau

Until next time,

Attack Your Fears

Fears -- we all have them. When we were younger it was fear of the dark or of the monsters our older siblings told us were hiding under the bed. As we mature we become unafraid of the dark and can go to sleep without checking for those monsters under the bed. While those fears may subside, as we mature, we develop new fears. Scared to be alone or scared to fail, scared to audition for the local talent show or scared to apply for the perfect job.

Regardless of the magnitude of our fears, the truth is they hold us back. But why do we let them? And what keeps us from overcoming them?

Here's a little secret- I'm scared of failure. I'm sure it's no surprise that, for this perfectionist, one of my fears is failure. But if I let my fear of failure get in the way of pursuing my dreams, what good is that? What will life be like in 10 or 20 years if I don't push my fear aside and pursue my greatest desires? I know that I don't want to wake up one morning realizing that my life is only mediocre, realizing that my life could have been extraordinary if I could have overcome my fear of failure.

What about you? What dreams have you pushed to the side, because your fears have got in the way? Do you, like me, find yourself wondering 'what if'?

• What if you applied for your dream job? 
• What if you went back to school? 
• What if you went on your dream vacation or started your own business?  
• What if you stopped wondering and faced your fear head on?

Whatever your fear, I challenge you to face it. Or, as someone recently challenged me, attack your fear.

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. -Eleanor Roosevelt

Attack your fear and stop asking what if. Don't let your fears keep you from living the life you imagined.

Until next week,