Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
BrEakING<br />
BarrIErs<br />
OVeRcOMING OBSTAcLeS TO<br />
AchIeVe hAPPINeSS AND SUcceSS<br />
by: allison sima<br />
It is Bruce Lee who said, “Don't pray for an<br />
easy life; pray for the strength to endure a<br />
difficult one.”<br />
When I think about that quote, I can’t<br />
help but wonder, is that how you find true<br />
happiness?<br />
We all have dreams and we all have goals.<br />
To reach the destination we want, every road<br />
is different. Some are longer than others.<br />
Some are filled with potholes. Regardless,<br />
don’t compare your journey to others. We all<br />
have bumps in the road and you never know<br />
the challenges someone else is facing.<br />
There are plenty things that can stand between<br />
you and the ability to achieve a dream<br />
or goal. Some include fear, procrastination,<br />
not having patience, not being able to make<br />
decisions, or surrounding ourselves with<br />
negative people who discourage us. It could<br />
even be a lack of faith in yourself.<br />
When you allow an obstacle to stop you<br />
from reaching what you want in life, you are<br />
giving that obstacle power it shouldn’t have.<br />
The obstacles become excuses. Put aside<br />
your excuses.<br />
I have faced many obstacles in my career,<br />
and here are a few things I have learned.<br />
iT’s WhaT you love To Do<br />
Regardless of your goal, whether personal<br />
or professional, it is something that is near<br />
and dear to your heart. Incorporate what<br />
you love doing as much as you can in your<br />
life. The larger the percentage of time you<br />
can devote to what you love doing, the more<br />
happiness you will find, and alleviate stress<br />
in your life.<br />
iT’s noT abouT reWarDs<br />
There are necessities in life that we all need<br />
in order to live, and yes, that does include<br />
money. But if money and possessions<br />
ALONE are your goal, then you will forever<br />
be chasing happiness and left feeling empty<br />
inside. When you are able to live your dream<br />
or goal, that is the REAL reward. You feel<br />
content, complete, not stressed, and just<br />
happy. You don’t feel jealous or envious, and<br />
you don’t have to brag. And if you do have<br />
to brag, you are probably covering up for<br />
something you are still missing.<br />
Take aDvanTage oF every<br />
opporTuniTy<br />
If there is something that you love doing,<br />
do it. No matter how small it is, do it. If<br />
it doesn’t pay, do it. It’s not often you can<br />
achieve a dream or goal on the first shot you<br />
take. You have to work at it every chance you<br />
get. If you are waiting for “the big” opportunity<br />
because the small ones are underneath<br />
you, life will pass you by. The key is to take<br />
small opportunities and know how to plan<br />
to leverage them toward bigger ones. Think<br />
in terms of the long run and take it step by<br />
step.<br />
Take The reigns<br />
Life isn’t easy or fair, and that’s okay. It’s not<br />
supposed to be. Life is about what you make<br />
of it. The fastest way to failure is to allow<br />
others to make decisions for you, especially<br />
when your heart and mind don’t agree. You<br />
have to be willing to stand up, take charge<br />
and move forward, despite the advice you<br />
may receive. This may mean you have to be<br />
different, perhaps a “black sheep”, but as<br />
long as your intentions are in the right place,<br />
keeping going.<br />
“haTers” are a Dime a DoZen<br />
The world is full of critics and yes, “haters”<br />
are a dime a dozen! People will be quick to<br />
judge and perhaps put you down. Sometimes<br />
it is because they think they know<br />
better and sometimes it’s because they are<br />
negative and can’t be nice, in general. Some<br />
people will criticize you out of jealousy. Or,<br />
they may be a genuinely good person and<br />
are just having a bad day. When the people<br />
around you try to fill you with doubt, find<br />
the inspiration you need inside yourself to<br />
keep going.<br />
As for me, I have encountered more critics<br />
and “haters” than I care to mention, and<br />
enough to last me a lifetime. And, that’s<br />
okay. I’ve overcome it.<br />
That is why I have made it my mission<br />
in life and in my career to inspire those<br />
around me. I don’t ever want to be a person<br />
who prevented someone or hurt someone<br />
else’s chances of bettering his or her life<br />
because of something I said or did.<br />
Instead, I want the people I meet to become<br />
better as a result of their experiences<br />
with me. It is my mission to lift the people<br />
around me up, not to tear them down. It’s<br />
in everything I do and everything I write. v<br />
Follow allison sima on linKedin at<br />
WWW.linkedin.com/in/allisonsima.<br />
and What about You?<br />
arE You inspirEd?<br />
do You haVE a goaL or a drEaM?<br />
EVErYdaY takE onE stEp ForWard.<br />
thE JournEY starts noW.<br />
32<br />
revia reviamagazine.com <strong>#11</strong>, 2015
Change language