Limitless Monday – That is never going to happen! Really?

 

How to effectively handle the negative opinions of others

 

How many times in life have you been told “that is never going to happen?” This statement is often uttered just after you have unabashedly announced your dream to the world. There are two ways of reacting to this massively negative statement. In fact three ways.

The first is to crawl into a ball and question your dream believing there is truth in the unwelcome statement doubting your abilities.

The second is to rebel. To wave the negative dullard away with your hand. An answer to this unwelcome statement is not even warranted.

As part of the second option, you must determine who is providing you with this negativity. Is it someone you respect? Someone who is wise and accomplished? Or is it someone who has done nothing with their lives, and only wishes to infect you with the same negativity that has overwhelmed them the day they gave up on life? Unfortunately these kinds of statements usually come from the latter, not the former.

That is why there is a third option. The slap across the face. It’s a wake up call. Although it is only metaphorical, it should in reality be an offense punishable by a slap.

Now, departing from my immaturity, we must surround ourselves with positive, motivational people. Unfortunately the world is filled with negative people, and therefore we must not be distracted from our mission. Tell yourself why they are wrong. But don’t give them the time of day.

Many years ago, as I started out on my career as an accountant, a senior accountant at my firm asked me what I saw myself doing in 10 years. I replied quickly, “Making millions!” She responded equally as quickly in a skeptical tone, “And how do you intend to do that?”

“I don’t know.” That answer, as I reflect now, probably sounded lame. But it was the truth. I didn’t know. And it didn’t matter whether I knew or not. That was my belief. What I found out years later was that the first thing you must have is the goal and then the belief. The “how” is irrelevant. The “how” will work itself out. Of course, that explanation was not going to satisfy Sharon Porter. She had already figured out my heart wasn’t in the 9-5 job, which became more evident as she caught me exiting the dark, cramped stationery cupboard where I had been hiding from my boss.

My 17 year old son has the goal and the belief, but I notice he is worried about the “how”. It’s immaterial how much I try to repeat the mantra, “the how doesn’t matter,” that still does not allay his fears.

We all have concerns about how we will achieve our goals, sometimes finding it impossible to visualize how you will travel from A to Z.

All I can say is that when you reach Z, and look back on the journey, you will be impressed and amazed by the unexpected opportunities that presented themselves to you, the misses and the hits.

The key is you must make that first step. Ignore the noise and negativity of others. They are not the ones in the hot seat. Remember that hope is for losers, and faith is for you. Have faith that your goals are attainable. Hope is praying for something good to happen; faith is believing it will happen.

Finally, don’t make the fatal mistake of believing you will achieve your goal because things will work out or fall in your lap. That rarely happens. Success requires sacrifice, hard work, and some element of risk. Today, have faith, and take that first or next step. Anything and everything is possible, my friend!

Happy Monday!

Banner Image: Dream until it’s your reality. Image Credit – Claudio Schwarz