Why You Need Courage To Follow Your Dream

This is a guest post from Ngina Otiende, who is a writer and trainer who loves helping others take charge of their lives. She’s passionate about intentional growth and relationships and wants to ignite the same passion in others. You can read her blog Intentional Today, follow her on Twitter and find her on Facebook.

A few years ago, I thought I needed a lot of money to start a business.

My mentor told me that I needed an idea. He said money followed ideas.

To illustrate the point, he picked up a plastic water bottle and waved it in front of my face.

“To one person, this used water bottle is nothing but trash, fit for the dustbin. To another person, this is an idea. An idea which will bring money”

I didn’t have money then. But I had a tiny idea. I didn’t think the idea merited a ‘business’ tag. Maybe a hobby. Something to do before I hit it big someplace else.

Eventually my desperation (I  was so broke) won over fear, hesitation and ego.

I began my ‘business’.

With less than five dollars (four hundred Kenya Shillings).

To move ahead in your dream, you must begin to see what your physical eyes cannot see.

You must refuse to be tied by ‘current reality’.

Tolulope Llesanmi says  

“Warriorship has nothing to do with your title or your physical or intellectual stamina or appearance but everything to do with your spirit. “

I have never met or heard of a timid warrior. Sure, warriors feel afraid sometimes but they are always moving forward.  They don’t allow fear to keep them down. They order their lives according to their heart and spirit, not according to their physical environment.

Success has everything to do with what/how we think. It’s about the perspective we keep and the things we decide to believe.

In my case and for a season I allowed my “reality” (an idea too small, lack of money) to dictate  my future.

What about you? What’s messing with your next step? 

Are you allowing

- your pain to dictate your faith?

- your disappointment to decide if you’ll wake up tomorrow and try again?

- your ego to dictate the direction of your marriage?

- your TV and social media to take the time you should be practicing your craft?

- busyness to steal time with your kids ?

- winter to determine if you’ll exercise? (okay that was for me, I dislike walking/running in the cold!)

Thoughts on moving to the next level. 

1. Great possibilities do not lie in the realm of the possible. 

If you are looking for greatness in the realm of “possible”, you are in the wrong universe.

God dreams impossible dreams – He created a world out of nothing.

A few days ago, someone said something that left me discouraged. I felt sliced up, tossed out, hopeless and mad. Later, I realized that I could use the same discouraging words to launch up. Or I could use them to spiral down. “Impossible” could turn into possible – it was all a matter of perspective.

What do you see in your “impossible” situation?

Remember, you cannot chase ‘normal’ and still hope to change the world. Your assignment is unique, as unique as its Author. Yes, the same One who creates mind-blowing things out nothing.

2. You don’t need a lot to start out

As a mentor, I’ve listened to many wonderful stories and dreams about what people want to do with their lives.

The difference between those who do something about their dream and those that don’t? - courage to start small.

You see, we have it backwards. We want things to line up before we step out. I do it all the time, even today.

But that’s not real life. Real life tends to serve early opportunities in small potions. Our little steps build up to giant leaps over time. What little step can you take today?

3. It’s not about you. 

Your life is simply not all about you. Hard to swallow and digest sometimes, but it’s true.

My pastor says “there are people waiting on the other side of your obedience”

Once we understand the largeness, the real meaning of life, we can push through anything and turn impossibilities into possible. Just ask Namale.

All of us have gifts. The bible says that our gifts will take us before great men. Not everyone will be ‘famous’, at least not the earthly kind anyway. But all of us must go before ‘our great men’. There are people to serve, a difference to make, charities to fund, churches to plant, missionaries to send, businesses to build, legacies to leave.

It might begin with you. But does not end with you. You must see that in order to keep fighting.

Are you courageous? What area(s) can you step out more?