Don't resist — persist!
When it comes to following a dream or a passion, are you a resister or a persister? Resisters take the outside in—criticism, rejection, lack of support. They quit running full speed ahead toward what they want? But persisters take the inside out, listening to their heart’s desire to stay motivated and keep moving toward what they want until they get it. Consider these stories:
In 1962, four nervous young musicians auditioned for the executives of the Decca Record company. The executives were not impressed. When turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, ‘We don’t like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out.’ The group was The Beatles.
In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modeling Agency, told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, ‘You’d better learn secretarial work or get married.’ Marilyn Monroe decided being a secretary wasn’t for her.
In 1954, Jimmy Denny, the Grand Ole Opry manager, fired a singer after one performance. He told him, ‘You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.’ Elvis Presley stuck with music instead.
When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. Edison said, ‘I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.’
All of these are examples of persisters. They didn’t let what the naysayers on the outside were telling them. They listened to their hearts instead. They stepped out of their comfort zones and into the realm of new possibilities.
Sometimes it’s appropriate to lead with your head and let what you know lead you down the practical path. But don’t forget that you can lead with your heart, too, and let what you feel lead you down the passionate path. That won’t always be easy, but character cannot always be developed with ease and quiet.
Remember, when you risk traveling the road with a few bumps and discomfort in it, you can strengthen your heart and soul, clear your vision, and be inspired to reach your heart’s desire.
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