Make Your Dreams A Reality

A recent article on MSN Money focused on 11 teens who created their own destiny and became millionaires in the process. As I read, I became more and more inspired. These are regular, every day people who took something they enjoy doing and made a career out of it.

This always seems to happen to other people, doesn't it? How many times do we read these success stories and tell ourselves, "It would be nice, but it will never happen to me!"

Well, why not?!! If you want to be the next success story everyone's reading about, get to work! Years ago, if you wanted to start your own business or venture out to make a dream come true, you needed to get a loan, rent office space, and hire employees. 

Times have changed. For some businesses, office space and employees are still essential. However, social media and technology open doors to a world of possibilities. We all have the potential to make our dreams come true. The question is, how strong is our desire to make it happen? How hard are we willing to work to make things happen?

The only difference between dreams and reality is hard work. There has never been a more inspiring and exciting time than the present to make your dreams part of your every-day life. You might not become a millionaire doing it, but you will find satisfaction in doing what you love.

Dreams To Reality

Change Your State of Mind

If you don't like your situation, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

~ Mary Englebreit

Life isn't always a bowl of cherries, as we all know. Even the most organized person (I know you're out there) doesn't always have things go as planned. So, when we can't change the situation, we have to learn to change our way of thinking.

I often find myself repeating my late mother's words of wisdom to my own children. She was a woman who always had a positive way of looking at things. And when she had scared, nervous, or whiny kids, she talked us through a different way of thinking until our attitude was better ~ no matter what the situation!

Recently, my frazzled and nervous junior high student was preparing for her first day of school. She tried to hold back tears while eating breakfast and told me she no longer wanted to go to school. I asked her, "What's the worst thing that can happen today?" "My locker might not open," she replied. I gently reminded her how many times she had practiced her locker combination. She was a pro. I had no doubt that she would be fine.

This new seventh grader couldn't change the situation that school was starting, but by the time we pulled up in front of the school, she was finally able to change her thinking. Instead of imagining all the things that could go wrong, together, we came up with solutions to possible problems.

After school, she came to the car with an air of confidence and a big, beautiful smile on her face. That was a sad, yet proud, moment that made me realize how grown up she was.

I am grateful for the many words of wisdom I received from my mother. I know I had plenty of times when self-doubt and insecurity got the best of me and my attitude plummeted. But, my mother never let me sulk in self-pity. And to this day, when things go wrong, I try to look for a bright side. It's not always easy, but changing your state of mind is often the best way to make the most of any situation.

State Of Mind