I'm Going to Stop Qualifying My Dreams, Goals and Gratitude
I'm determined to stop adding caveats to my dreams, my goals and my gratitude.
"It's a beautiful morning, but it is supposed to rain later."
"99 Walks is on a mission to get a million women walking, but we are just starting."
"I'm grateful for my good health and the health of my family, but I'm afraid of what the future will bring."
Why? Why do I add “but”? I can think of five possible reasons.
I don't want to tempt fate. How many times have we said "I don't want to jinx it?" On some level, we believe that fate can be jinxed. But I suspect that isn't true.
Somehow, I think I can prepare myself better for the bad if I try to not get my hopes up. If I let the doubts creep in. Once again, I don't think this is true. I'm smart enough to know that things change all the time and that there will be ups and downs. Holding back from truly embracing my joy will not make the sad times any less sad.
Maybe, there is a bit of compare and despair at work. I'm grateful for my physical wellbeing, but wish I was ... thinner, taller, stronger ... whatever-er.
I'm afraid of complacency. If I just feel grateful for exactly what I have right now, will it dampen my fire to do more? Will I become complacent and lazy?
Will it sound like bragging if I say these things aloud? “I have chosen to live in one of the world’s most beautiful places, but it is awful in March.” Do I do that so I don’t sound like I’m bragging?
Or maybe it is something else entirely. Something I'm not even aware of. Whatever it is, this month, I am going to dare to dream, set goals, and express my gratitude with a full heart and without reservation.
Wish me luck. I suspect this is going to be easier said than done.