The grey sky of morning contained an ominous quality. The clouds were so thick they were almost tangible. Then I saw it. Faintly sandwiched between the clouds was the hint of a rai ow. Barely visible were the bands of color, with a straining, subtle expectancy as the dim colors arched upward. It was the begi ings of a rai ow. The hint of a po ibility of something beautiful, magical and rare.
Was the rai ow becoming more of a rai ow? Or would it retreat?
Would all the pieces that need to come together to create a vibrant halo of color in the sky so the rai ow would flourish, or would one of the factors jump out of balance, thus erasing the hint? Which would be created? Nothingne or gloriou e ?
In your life, where are there hints of a rai ow? What is standing in the way of your magnificent rai ow?
Perha it is over analysis. Sure, pla ing is valuable. And becoming paralyzed by co idering "What ha e if X ha e ? What ha e if Z ha e ? What ha e if Mary tells John that A might have a negative effect on B so then X is a moot point anyway?" And what if a huge meteor pummels Earth and tomorrow ALL of the planet is destroyed?
Having a game plan is always a good thing. A good coach knows that a game plan is co istently modified once the ball is put into play. Who knows what the other side has up their sleeves? I tead of getting stuck in the worry whirlwind, put together a framework and wait with joyful anticipation of the positive potential.
Maybe you are co tantly looking at your rai ow from a per ective of fear. From the disempowering rather than the compelling. Fear is e ecially i idious, because it can come cloaked in many disguises. It may a ear to be care and concern, or it may a ear as discernment. Another costume it wears is tradition. You know this one, when your friend says, "Why change? This is the only way we have ever done it!" Definitely the death knell of a rai ow in the making.
Or another way to make your rai ow in the making disa ear is to give up on its existence right as it is about to burst forth with colorful lendor. Norman Vincent Peale wrote these inciteful words on this subject: "Lots of people limit their po ibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It's no use. I can't go on. If you do you're licked, and by your own thinking too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on." Countle inventors, entrepreneurs, artists and people just like you have given up right on the verge of their personal ti ing point to succe .
And then there are the people who stay in pursuit of their rai ows.
As a child, Richard Bra on, noted Entrepreneur, was diagnosed with dyslexia. His scores on standardized tests were dismal, pointing to the likelihood of a le than stellar future. Perfect example of how radically off the mark prophesies based on "standardized tests" can be for children. These tests don't measure the pa ionate drive that fills an individual. They can not hold onto embers that are just waiting to burst into flames. They can not po ibly see what can ha en by adding the positive su ort and nurture of family members and teachers: people who i tead of looking at the numbers on a standardized test and i tead look into the soul and say, as Bra on's Grandmother said, "You've got one go in life. Make the most of it."
Richard Bra on obviously saw the glimmer of a rai ow and then made sure the environment was right to bring it to fruition.
Media magnate Oprah Winfrey hardly had an easy early life, yet she has said, "All my life I have known I was born to greatne ." Her reality was poverty, molest, incompletion of her college studies and then having to switch gears on her dreams from newscaster to morning show host. Did any of these negative moments get in her way of pursuing her greatne ?
Many other people would have gotten discouraged. They had a PLAN to become a newscaster, what a step down to be a morning show host! Oh, really?
Who hosts the news for Nashville, Te e ee's nightly newscast? Sure, the people in Nashville and the surrounding areas are well aware of their beloved news anchors. I am sure they do a terrific job.
Who is Oprah Winfrey? If you have been awake for the last decade, you are well aware of Oprah. A role model who saw a glimmer and has been riding her rai ow ever since. Not only that, she has taken the world along with her, enlightening millio as she creates the life of her dreams. Even her fianc has celebrity status. His name is Steadman. You probably already knew that.
And Oprah's radiance births rai ows every day from her Chicago studios. Today I watched half of her program, seeing the ever salty, very down to earth Dr. Phil di e ing common se e relatio hip advice to controlling wives and the men who love them. Imagine that glimmering rai ow: a succe story in the making, along comes Oprah and Dr. Phil now has a huge following. His "tell it like it is style" and simple strategies continue to build rai ows for people each time he a ears on Oprah's show.
I sat at the intersection, looking at the hint of a rai ow, wondering what its me age was for me. I sighed at the beauty of it, the quiet whi ers from the po ibility of the rai ow to my soul.
I turned the corner towards my house. Le than a block later, I saw it. The rai ow, in full majestic color. No longer a hint, but a reality. Beautifully and magnificently formed beyond what any artist could create. My eyes filled with tears.
All I had to do was turn the corner. All YOU have to do is turn the corner. Turn away from the tyra y of overanalysis. Turn away from "what if?" paralysis. Away from a life time of being fearful, of being somehow not enough, away from "but we have always done it this way." Turn the corner to embracing your greatne . Take the fire deep within you and make something of it. Say what is so in your life, and then agree to it! Take action on it! Now!
Vic Braden said, "The moment of enlightenment is when a person's dreams of po ibilities become images of probabilities." Your rai ow is stu ing. I can see it from my window. The sun is shining upon it, reflecting that glint of "Yes, I can!" in your eyes. Today, show your rai ow to others. Watch the magic as it unfolds before you. Your rai ow is always there, simply waiting for you to bring it out in all its glory. Right now, it looks fantastic. Congratulatio .
About The Author
Julie Jordan Scott is a Profe ional Succe Coach. Visit her we ite to find out more about her latest free coaching offers as well as many resources for your most pa ionate lifestyle! http://www.5pa io .com/coachingoffer.html. Send Julie a note julie@5pa io .com and let her know how you will a ly what you read today. She is waiting to hear from you!
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