Motivational Monday: We All Need To Be Dreamers

Today is a Federal holiday marking the birthday (he was actually born on January 15 to be precise) of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

He was, of course, a pioneer for the civil rights movement. He would ultimately become at age 35 the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. It is difficult to imagine history without his trailblazing footsteps firmly marked upon it.

Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech is his most quoted and well known.

He was, indeed, a dreamer. We all need to be dreamers.

But how many of us actually have dreams for ourselves (or even all of mankind) that are anywhere NEAR as specific and focused upon as Dr. King’s were?

We SAY we know what we want, most of us. But do we REALLY know? Can we REALLY? Describe them in a tenth of the detail and vision of what was contained in the “Dream” speech?

The sad answer is NO. We have many wants and desires, but they are often chaotically jumbled in our minds and sometimes in contradiction to each other.

We need today to honor the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. We also need to honor his capacity to dream as big as he did. And we owe it to ourselves to start honoring our own dreams as well.

Make it your goal TODAY to shape and mold and nurture your dreams, no matter how big they are. They are waiting to explode into creation. And if you are going to dream, should it be for anything less than something BIG?? Always dream big. Aim high. Try to overshoot your comfort zone.

Your dreams are your creations.

And as their creator, shouldn’t you get cracking?

This Tale Isn't Just For Mice

I took one of our sons and baby daughter to see the “The Tale of Despereaux” the other day, the film adaptation of the Newbery Medal-winning book by Kate DiCamillo.

The film was not only cute and fun and entertaining, it offered something that many films today fail to—a positive and encouraging message.

Despereaux is a mouse unlike other mice—he is born without the instinct to cower in fear of everything around him. His family, friends, and fellow mouse citizens are frustrated and discouraged by the fact that he just won’t be afraid like all the other mice.

“Oh, he’ll learn to be afraid. Just give him time,” his family is told.

But not this mouse. He becomes the Don Quixote of rodents. After reading a book about knights and castles and dragons, he is determined to set out into the world with no regrets and no fears.

His chivalry and bravery lead him to ultimately rescue a princess, restore hope to an entire kingdom, and teach us all a thing or two about compassion, courage, and forgiveness.

“The Tale of Despereaux” calls each of us, young and old alike, to reach for the pinnacle of our potential. The seemingly simple story of a mouse becomes a broader vehicle to teach us all that who we are today is just a tiny shadow of what we are ultimately destined to become. You ARE someone special. You DO have something to contribute. And you CAN be more than who you are.

Don’t be fooled. This isn’t just a movie for the kiddies. Use it as an excuse to see it, if you must. But don’t be afraid to open up discussions with them about the positive and beautiful and encouraging message behind the beautiful artwork and elegant story.

Go see this. It’s a wonderful movie that makes you want to run out and read the book if you haven’t already.

It provides a motivational message that is grossly lacking not just in movies, but in our society at large.

Don't Let The Media Rain On Your Parade!

Finally. I can take a deep breath. I have been vindicated.

I have been telling you for MONTHS now that the mainstream media has made the economic situation far worse with it apocalyptic storytelling of doom and gloom.

And now there is a poll out finding that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with me.

77% of Americans said they felt that the U.S. media has made the financial downturn worse by projecting fear into the hearts and minds of the American people.

The poll found that most felt the media carried some responsibility for the lack of confidence in the economy.

Remember what I have always told you—and it is a fundamental law of the universe—what you THINK about you BRING about.

Everyone knows a friend or relative or co-worker who always talks of illness and is seemingly always—surprise, surprise—SICK.

We all know people who speak only of failure and then turn around and fail…AGAIN.

My favorite analogy is that of the sports coach getting his team pumped up. The coach doesn’t pump them up for defeat. They don’t instill thoughts of failure. “Let’s get out there and LOSE this one, team!! GO, go, go!! SURRENDER at any cost!!”

Neither does the military commander send his troops into battle with thoughts of anything less than VICTORY.

Of course not. That would be silly and quite counterproductive in both examples.

Most of us, unfortunately, get our vibrational pulse from the media. The media can change our entire MOOD, whether it’s reporting on the weather or sharing predictions on an election.

The best we can do is fight this negative drumbeat. It does NOT have to become OUR reality. Sure, the economy isn’t what it has been or could be. But is it really helpful to start off yet another year with more predictions of heartache, bankruptcy, and doom?

So don’t let the news bring you the blues.

It’s way too much power to give the media anyway.