How to find the courage to follow your dreams...

How to find the courage to follow your dreams...
Some people are born tall and beautiful, others get
intelligence from the gene pool, talent comes in various
forms and measures? courage however, is something we all
have. Oftentimes people see courage as a virtue that is
owed to others: they jump into rivers to save children from
drowning, they go to war, they form unions and associations
speaking up when it is more convenient to be silent. Are
you one of those people who give so much to others that you
have little or nothing left over for yourself? Do you dare
to follow your dreams? This article shows you how to find
your inner reservoir of courage and channel it toward any
worthwhile goal.

1. Think Courage- You are as bold and brave as you think.
Don't crowd your mind with fearful thoughts, think
constructively. Constantly picture yourself slaying
dragons, rescuing a kitten trapped in a tree, speaking up
at an important meeting, finding and following your dreams.
Give these heroic movies primetime, rewinding and replaying
them over and over again. Whatever you focus intently on
will grow and that includes the courage to follow your
dreams.

2. Speak Courage- Spring clean your vocabulary, trashing
negative words such as ?I can't'. Discipline your tongue to
speak the language of hope despite your circumstances.
?Show me how to do it' is better than ?I can't do it'.
?I'll get it right next time' is better than, ?see? I told
you I couldn't do it.' Learn to respect yourself. You can
sing R-E-S-P-E-C-T all you like, but if you keep referring
to yourself as ?clumsy, stupid and a big joke' you'll
become permanently discouraged and unable to follow your
dreams.

3. Earn Courage- It's perfectly natural to feel nervous at
the prospect of leaving your comfort zone. Many world class
actors and speakers still experience stage fright before a
big performance. Earn courage by pressing on despite your
fears. Act bold and confident even when you're not. Except
you hand out stethoscopes, people will never really know
that your heart is pounding ninety times a second. If your
hands start to sweat, shove them in your pocket or wipe
them with a hanky. Don't give in to fear, be encouraged. If
you don't get anything right the first time, learn from
your shortcomings and try again. Remember persistence is
the only guarantee of success.

4. Keep Courage- When you accomplish anything worthwhile,
make a note in your book of remembrance- simply document
steps taken and consequent results in a diary or journal.
Whenever you feel low on courage, go through your records
and say to yourself, ?if I could do it then, I can
certainly do it now'. Great things are rarely accomplished
easily or quickly. Obstacles are a test of your worthiness,
a pre-screening of sorts. Remain focused as you follow the
winding path to your dreams.

You are capable of great and wonderful things. Don't let
difficult people and circumstances keep you down. Stretch
out your hands and seize the courage you need to become
everything you were born to be.

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Ọgọ Ọgbata is a writer and speaker who
empowers people to create more fulfilling lives by
discovering, developing and harnessing their many talents.
An abundance of insightful articles, FREE resources and
helpful tools are available on her site. Do you want to
find the courage to follow your dreams? Visit
http://www.creativityandsense.com right now!