After five impactful years coaching 200+ people to discover and pursue their bliss (aka: what makes them come alive be it their desires, dreams, passions, or hobbies), I have come to one very profound conclusion. There is one primary differentiator as to whether a person begins a journey to their bliss or not. It isn’t what I thought it was when I began to coach.
I use to think it was belief. While important, it is not. I now see belief as a very important arrival point, but unnecessary to begin. Why? Cause I have seen far too many people begin their journey without having belief in themselves, their vision or their ability to succeed.
To make my point, I’ll use a metaphor. The journey to our desires is like a bridge. A bridge is a pathway to get to where you want to go. However, we don’t all see bridges the same way.
Some see a beautiful structure that is akin to an invitation to cross. All this person has to do to cross, is take the first step and keep going till they make it across.
Others though, see a very different bridge in their minds. They are terrified by what they see and feel about the bridge. The idea of stepping onto the bridge is a complete non-starter even if they know what they desire is on the other side and it’s the only way to get there. They see something insurmountable, impossible really. They see this all through a lens of fear, resistance and doubt. They would rather stay stuck, and deny themselves their desire(s), than attempt an unsafe, risky crossing.
The bridges may indeed be as different as those pictured below. Some journeys are more difficult than others. Or, they may all be the same - providing a pathway to get what you desire.
What I have learned with 100% certainty is that the differentiator, the one thing more significant than belief, is courage. Courage to take the first step, and then a second and so forth. Without it, things like commitment, belief, momentum, experience, strategies, and celebrations will not be yours. You will remain stuck at the start of whatever bridge you see, until you find the courage to take the first step, regardless of what bridge you see before you.
