Daily Inspiration 2-2-10

"The greater danger for most of us
is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,
but that it is too low and we reach it.

-- Michelangelo


"Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible."

-- Claude T Bissell


If you really think hard about it, this entire world runs on desire. Desire to be better, to have more, to be more, to share with more, to own more, to reach beyond what they now know and experience to something else. They say about mountain climbers that they only do it because the mountain is there. Really it is because they want to be up there--they have a desire to achieve that objective; to experience the thrill of it. It's desire.

We all dream. Most of us dream at night as we have let go of the day and go off to that strange land of our dreams. Some of us dream in the daylight of some desire that may be near, or it may be far off in the distance. Children are dreamers. They see what is not and want it to be what is. They have no trouble whatsoever fantasizing. We might even encourage children, but when we are adults, you are more likely to hear, "You're a dreamer. You need to face reality. You live in a dream world. Get your head out of the sky and come back to earth." Now, you're being told that you can't aim that high. You have to aim lower. Don't step out of your rightful place. Stay there with the same folks doing the same things the way their fathers and grandmothers and great-great grandfolks did it. Stay the course. Keep your head on straight.

I'll give you some free advice: BS. Crap. If you listen to that, you've resigned to live the life of those you see around you. No desire. No challenge. Stay the course.

If that is where you want to be, that is wonderful. High five on that. If . . . that's your desire. Or did you trade your desire for security and comfort? Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks said this: "If you want to achieve widespread impact and lasting value, be bold."

The problem is that dreamers are alone much of the time with their dreams until they achieve them, then they have friends they don't even know. Sometimes it is best to keep the dreams to yourself as long as you can because there are so many people who may not want you to succeed and change. It makes them uncomfortable to say the least.

Obviously, Michelangelo was a dreamer and he challenged the status quo. To achieve the kind of things he achieved requires boldness and risk. There is probably no other way. And, look at the reward. Oh, sure, he could have failed to perform, but like he said, better to aim too high and miss it, than aim to low and achieve it.

I especially liked Claude Bissell's advice:

"Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible."

Yes, and Amen!



"All Dreams Can Come True--If We Have The Courage To Pursue Them." -- Walt Disney

Spread Some Joy Today--Got any dreams you put in the closet out of sight? Any of them worth revisiting? Maybe you have some new ones. There is nothing quite like a strong desire to energize your life!