Photo Deposit and Canstock Photo

It never ceases to amaze me how often other people tell us what we can and can’t do. What is and is not acceptable, normal, or even possible. Often, people have come to me for help in getting their heads on straight because someone else has muddled them, causing confidence crises, creating doubt, and stomping on their hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

This is a perpetual challenge for many of us. And when mired in the fallout, it’s hard to remember that we choose how much power we give others to influence us. We choose what advice to take and to ignore, and how much weight to give others’ opinions.

So today I’m offering you a few reminders.

• No one can see your big picture for your life. More often than not, others can’t see their own.
• No one has walked your path, lives with your dreams and dreams and aspirations to the extent you do.
• Enthusiasm and desire give you fuel to feel your passion.
• You know your purpose, your goals, your objectives.
• You know your plans for fulfilling your purpose, for reaching your goals and objectives.
• If we all quit every time someone said no, or that we couldn’t do something, nothing would get done. We’d still be living in the dark ages.
• And no one—no one—should stomp another’s dreams. So what if they’re deemed pipe dreams? Isn’t everything a pipe dream until someone makes it a reality?

Look to dreamers, for they change the world. America was a big dream, deemed impractical and impossible, except it wasn’t. All the medical breakthroughs and things like cars and computers and telephones—electricity—were pipe dreams once.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. No need to beat it to death. But these things are important, and I don’t want you to forget them, so I’m creating little cards you can print and carry in your wallet to remind you when the naysayers attack.

Pull them out and read them as often as needed—and remember, you are the master of your life. You create your destiny. And that’s as it should be because you’ll be the one answering for what you do and don’t do.

What I most want for you is a fulfilled, content life. One where you dared to dream and took reasoned risks to make your dreams your reality. Where you, as an old man or woman, look into the mirror and say, “They said I couldn’t. They were wrong. I’m so glad I didn’t believe them.”

And if you’ve suspected this is a hot-button issue for me, you’d be right. When my husband and I announced our intention to marry, we were told, “It’ll never last.” We had only known each other a short time, but we knew in the way you just know really important things. I’ll never forget how much it hurt to have people say that to us.

Now, it’s a running joke between us. Every now and then Hubby will ask me to marry him again. I answer, “I don’t know. They say it’ll never last.”

For the record, we just celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. So there you have it. Proof that they’re wrong—at least, so far. They might be right. It might not last. But, so far, it’s been a whale of a 39 years that it did.

Follow your dreams. And your own mind and heart. And exercise your own judgment. This is, after all, your life. Live it well… on your terms.

Here are the cards:

_________________________________

The Reunited Hearts Series, Vicki Hinze, Her Perfect Life, Mind Reader, Duplicity

© 2015, Vicki Hinze. Hinze is the award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of nearly thirty novels in a variety of genres including, suspense, mystery, thriller, and romantic or faith-affirming thrillers. Her latest release is The Marked Bride, Shadow Watchers, Book 1. She holds a MFA in Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Theocentric Business and Ethics. Hinze’s online community: Facebook. Books. Twitter. Contact.www.vickihinze.com. Subscribe to Vicki’s Newsletter.