I remember being a young boy and having dreams of a future where I could become anything I wanted to. Of course, as time went by, I was faced with the reality I was starting with a deficit that would make my dreams of a brighter tomorrow, hard to overcome.
Even though this was true, I was convinced I could do anything.
In the middle of this optimism, I was faced with a world filled with disappointments and heartaches. The amount of fortitude it was going to take to pursue those dreams and reach beyond the limitations in front of me caused me to pursue the things of the world that would take me away from striving to achieve.
In fact, those things caused me to stop believing altogether.
I know I am not alone in this type of thinking. In fact, many times this defeatist attitude is a by-product of people in our lives who constantly remind us of what we can’t do; never what we can. If we are not careful, this pessimistic perspective can cause us to believe they are right.
We have all been exposed to people who will dismiss our ideas, plans and dreams. It almost appears they do so with the intention of stifling our creativity and ingenuity.
When this occurs, if we are not careful, we become convinced we will never be able to rise above our circumstance. This attitude is not only defeating, but it is contagious.
How do we combat this type of thinking? How can we move forward when this type of behavior seems to be all around us? We do so by continuing to believe.
In fact, we “don’t stop believing” no matter what anyone says.
I know this sounds so much easier than it is, but it is crucial none-the-less. You may be thinking but, this has played out in my life more than once. I have tried and failed, so why continue trying. My answer is because when we stop trying, we are the ones who lose.
“Don’t stop believing” when you have a desire or dream you hope to achieve. Because sometimes simply believing makes it worth the effort.
You see, you and I were created with unique skills, gifts, and abilities. We are capable of so much more than the limitations others place on us. When we stop believing that is true, we will find they were right, and we will have missed the opportunity to reach for all we were created for.
So, when someone rains on your parade, you need to realize losing sight of the things you hope to accomplish is up to you, not them.
The power we give the naysayers in our lives is up to us. My prayer is you “don’t stop believing” and “hold on to that feeling”, no matter what anyone says!
John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
