5. Lack of persistence
Often dreams do not come true on the first try. History has shown this to be true. A perfect example of this is Thomas Edison. He tried more than 10,000 experiments before he finally converted electricity into light, but he refused to ever admit defeat, saying: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
"Failure" is not a good excuse for giving up.
Inhibiting effects: A lack of persistence blocks people from their dreams because it causes them to give up too easily. They are discouraged at the first sign of difficulty and abandon their dreams, choosing instead to take an easier path. Caron says this happens when "you aren't accountable to anyone but yourself, and you don't value yourself enough to keep following through."
How to know if you are stuck: "You tried and gave up much too soon; part of you is still dreaming your dream, however," Caron says. A lack of persistence often results when you are struggling with any of the previously mentioned obstacles.
Overcome the obstacle: Caron offers advice for boosting persistence:
• Make a commitment to yourself, as well as publicly to your friends, family and peers.
• Realize that there is an opportunity for learning in every "failure," and that every "failure" gets you closer to realizing your dream.
• Keep fuelling your dream with your imagination.
• Make sure you aren't running into problems with any of the first four obstacles.
Taking the first step towards your dream
Feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start? Caron suggests, "Chunk things down in manageable steps." She continues, "For instance, if you want to become an interior designer, you don't have to quit your day job and go off to university. Maybe the first thing you need to do is start collecting some magazines and meet another designer."
If you're unsure what your dreams are, you may need to start by simply taking some time for yourself to get back in touch with your true feelings. If you struggle with this, a life coach can be a great resource to give you the support and encouragement you need to feel confident in choosing your dream.
While following your dreams may not be the easiest path to choose, it can be the most rewarding.
Michele Caron has been a life coach for the past two years. She trained with the Thomas Leonard CoachVille School of Coaching. Michele is also the creator of www.MyLifeCoach.com, Google's number one life-coaching site. She has also been featured on www.EmpoweringMessages.com.
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