Change YOUR World | Guest Post by Kyle

Hi everyone, my name is Kyle. To this point in my life I really haven't had a Superman "I just saved the world" moment. I feel like so many people are thinking that because they haven't done anything "world-shaking" they are failures.

Well here's a wakeup call: There aren't a lot of people that have changed Earth as we know it. If your expectation is that, as a teenager, you are going to save a llama colony in Siberia (are there llama colonies in Siberia?), prove some new mind-blowing scientific concept, build a house made out of chocolate and then fly home for dinner, that's just not going to happen all at once. BUT, don't let that stop you. Because you can change the world. 

Let me tell you a story that will illustrate my point: 

So I'm a political geek. In my free time I like to play political simulation games and read my 13 dog-eared copies of The Almanac of American Politics.

In 2012 I had the great opportunity to be the county coordinator for a lady who was running for congress (every Political Geek's dream, right?). I had to make A TON of phone calls, organize events, put up signs, send out emails, and spread around literature. It forced me to get out of my comfort zone, because, truth be told, making phone calls was not necessarily my cup of tea. I remember being told no and talking to a lot of rude people. It was a lot of hard work!

I got a lot of people involved and put a lot of hard work into it. I was able to go to meeting with grown ups and seriously taking part in an election process.

I know: you are probably wanting to know the result of all this time and energy…we lost. But DON'T STOP READING. As depressing as a loss was, I still felt like I had done my own part to change the world.

Yes, she didn't win. But I was able to participate first hand in an elections process. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and meet people I otherwise would not have met.

So, what's the point of this very long and boring post? It is that YOU can make a difference. YOU can change your own world. You aren't just going to be able to wake up one day and figure out the solution to some unknown math problem. You have to work hard at it. As you work bit by bit, piece by piece, you CAN change the world. In a big way!

It takes a lot of small, little, bit by bit things first. But eventually, with a lot of work, you can change the world. 

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Bio blurb:

Kyle is a political addict. He loves keeping up with current events. In his free time, he likes to play games, watch sports, and manage his fantasy football team. He is a student at Williamsburg Academy and loves the quality of education and all the wonderful people that he is associated with. 

Slowin' it down

Conquering your fears sure isn't an easy thing to do. After writing last week's post, I set to work to see what I could do to overcome my challenges. And I was once again reminded that it's a process, something that often comes slowly. Taking a hero's journey, a path to awesome, or whatever other name you know it by--it's a journey. It takes time, faith, trust, and sometimes a little pixie dust. ;) So don't give up on it. Press on right to the end. Put a smile on your face. Look up. Be grateful to be a part of your own adventure. And if even that is a challenge, you are definitely not alone. Finding joy in the journey is sometimes hard--really hard. But it does come.

I promised I'd come back and write about this week's experience, so what I do differently this week knowing my fears are optional?

I slowed down.

I took 10 minutes each day to meditate, clearing my mind of distractions and worries. I stopped to speak to a friend. And one night when the stars were glowing bright I laid outside on the trampoline and just wondered about this world we call home. The sky seems so big when it's just you, the cool breeze, and an endless expanse of stars above.

It's hard to forget what you live for when you take time each to remind yourself. Even when a mountain of stress seems to have taken up permanent residence in your life, a few minutes isn't too much to spare when it brings a new sense of confidence.

This here is one of my favourite short videos. Basically sums up everything I just rambled on about...in only three minutes. Enjoy. ;)

Punch fear in the face.

Chances are, once you begin your hero's journey, or your path to awesome, there's going to be some major obstacles. They may be physical obstacles, lack of money, verbal opposition, ignorance about how to follow your purpose, or many more challenges. Today I found some amazing writing on how to overcome the universal challenge well-known to all who seek greatness: fear. 

If you haven't read Start by Jon Acuff yet, I recommend it!

This book is an easy, entertaining read, but full of insights. I love what Acuff says about fear:

"Fear tends to argue both sides of the coin, leaving you absolutely no room to stand. Here are two of the complete opposite things it will tell you: "Don't chase your dream at all." And, "If you chase your dream, you have to do it all at once."

Do you see the absurdity of that? "Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!" fear screams. Then, when you ignore those cries, fear changes its tactic and screams, "Do it all at once! Do it all at once!"

Both of those statements are lies.

As you stand with one foot still on the road to average and one foot on the road to awesome, you've got to kill those concerns. Fortunately, there's a trick that will take care of them both. 

Just start."

Have you seen fear working like this in your own life? In all my endeavours to do good, fear has been right up in my face telling me I have to move faster, faster faster! If I don't do it all right away, it will be too late! I'll be too old to become great at this sport. I'll be too late to make a difference with my service. I'll be too late to make a change in my life because it won't seem genuine to others. I'll be too late...

I wonder how many great dreams, goals, and life-changing acts have been conquered by fear's lies. Unfortunately, so many people don't realize how absolutely untrue these doubts, worries and fears are. You don't need to fall prey to the same trap.

Any thoughts that make you doubt your worth, abilities, potential or capacity to do good are not worth your time. They are simply not true. 

This is not to say that we need to push those thoughts away by filling our minds with arrogance, pride or distractions. Instead, address those thoughts, identify them as lies, and replace them with truth. How? I'll share one way that Acuff suggests. And this works--I've tried it. Don't wait. Do it today. 

"Voices are invisible bullies, and they hate when you make them visible....Every time you take a step toward being awesome and a voice gets loud, write it down. Don't ask, "Is this a voice?" before you do. Just write. Fast and furious and imperfectly. Scribble as many as you can down, and then refute them with truth."

Take a piece of paper and draw a line right down the middle. Like this. 

Use a pen, a crayon, or even a purple marker. Just do it right away. Don't let procrastination, fear, or laziness get in your way. On one side of the page, write your biggest fears. On the opposite side of the line, write two positive opposites for each fear. It might look something like this:

Write fast. Write your real thoughts. Don't worry about making it perfect, because this exercise naturally echoes the perfect, real you. 

Once you feel like you've refuted a sufficient number of fears, here comes the fun part! Take a deep breath. Feel that courage? It might be small, but it's in you. By conquering your fear, you're letting your courage blossom. Now rip that page right down the line. Save the positive side. I keep mine in my purse, so if I'm nervous before a social situation it's right there, ready for me to whip it out and remember why what I do makes a difference. 

Then BURN the other half. Destroy the lies. Have no mercy. I'm not joking. Rip up the page. Rip it up and then burn it. Rip it up, burn it, and scatter the ashes to the wind. Whatever it takes to always remember that these lies have no place in your life. 

Just don't set your lawn ablaze. If anything like that happens, don't say you weren't warned. ;)

And throughout all of this, be sincere. Realize that those truths reflect the real you. Realize that you have the strength and power to overcome any and all of your fears. 

Are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to destroy your fears? Comment below once you've burnt or otherwise destroyed your fears. You can even take the next step and share some of your positive truths! Remember, fears hate it when you make them visible, so take advantage of this opportunity. Just start. You've got this.

Next week I'll report back how striving to overcome my own fears has changed how I live each day. Until then, keep following your own path to awesome!

What Makes a Hero?

Chances are, you've heard about what makes a hero before. Joseph Campbell's idea of the hero cycle has spread far and wide since he published A Hero With a Thousand Faces in 1949. Ever wondered why it's so popular? It's because it's true!

One of the key characteristics that these heroes must develop in their journey is courage. To quote the Princess Diaries movie:

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all."

Just like Matthew Winkler said in the video, we are each human, and we each have the amazing opportunity to take our own journey through the hero cycle. No matter our circumstances, possessions, family situation, education, health or past mistakes, we can each find our courage and conquer our challenges. Courage is not something reserved for privileged people who magically have everything they need to be their best. Instead, it is something developed as we dare to step out of our comfort zone and into the unknown. Like JRR Tolkien so eloquently said, "Courage is found in unlikely places." It may not be until the end when you look back upon your journey that you realize you had courage all along. However you find your courage, trust is crucial. Trust that it will carry you through your challenges, no matter how daunting.

Now we'd like to issue a challenge! This blog was created to inspire you to live a better story and to show ways in which people everywhere are doing so. Today we challenge you to (drumroll please...) take a few minutes today to think about hero cycle and how it applies to your life. Have you received a call? Are you reluctant to accept it? Have you crossed into the unknown and now feel like you're wandering a rocky trail? Perhaps you have just undergone a transformation and are returning to the status quo. Wherever you are in your own journey--your path2awesome--think about how you can use courage to overcome your own challenges. Then get started. 

"There's no comfort in the learning zone, but there's no learning in the comfort zone!"

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Did this inspire you? Visit our Share Your Story page and share how you are living with courage! And don't forget to share the blog with your friends! 

Bridges

Wes Jackson once said, 

"If your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough."

The Bridge Builder

by Will Allen Dromgoole

An old man going a lone highway, 

Came, at the evening cold and gray, 

To a chasm vast and deep and wide.

Through which was flowing a sullen tide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim,

The sullen stream had no fear for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting your strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day, 

You never again will pass this way; 

You've crossed the chasm, deep and wide,

Why build this bridge at evening tide?

The builder lifted his old gray head; 

"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"There followed after me to-day

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been as naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be;

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building this bridge for him!"

On our own paths to awesome, there are many things we can do to build figurative living bridges. What will you choose to do today?

Intentionally Precise, Precisely Intentional

It's so nice to leisurely open your eyes in the morning, glance at the clock, and lay there, staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before you slide out of your bed to make your way to the pantry for a bowl of cheerios. Relaxing days without much direction are always enjoyable. Who doesn't like the freedom of just doing whatever?

What's also so nice is collapsing into bed with a triumphant sigh knowing that you really did good in the world that day. Falling asleep with gratitude in your heart, memories of smiles shared and the thrill of accomplishment is always enjoyable.

There's nothing wrong with lazy days! In my eyes, they are essential. We've got to take some time to chill and renew ourselves otherwise we'd burn out and that really doesn't end well. But today I want to let each of you know that there is such a power in living intentionally. The past few weeks have been filled with both kinds of days for me, but the ones that I am happiest with are the ones where I literally fell into bed after working all day to keep a commitment or help somebody out.

If you've taken music lessons before, you probably know the importance of staying actively engaged. If you start a piece even a little bit late, the timing of the whole thing is off. Or if you allow yourself to get sloppy halfway through, the precision that makes music so beautiful is lost. From even before you begin to play to the very last note, you have to be intentional. You've got to be mentally prepared so you can start strong and confidently. You've got to be physically prepared with your fingers on the right keys so there's no mad scramble at the beginning. It takes so much effort, but soon you find yourself mastering difficult pieces with a new-found confidence.

You can consider each day to be a new piece of music, and look at this! You're both the composer and the musician! You choose which "notes" to play and how you'll play them. Are you going to open your eyes with a smile, hop out of bed and fill your home with happiness and gratitude? Are you going to consciously choose who you want to be and hold yourself accountable for your actions? When you find yourself just coasting through the day, are you going to remind yourself of your goals and dreams and get back on track?

I promise you that if you start each day with purpose, passion, and a solid intention, everything changes. Each decision leads you precisely where you want to go, and you end each day with a deep satisfaction. Now that is always enjoyable. :)

Realize That It's You | Guest Post by Sheila

Hey, my name is Sheila. I'm a normal girl. I run track, do my homework, and hang out with friends. But not everything about me is normal. And today I want to tell you about how I make my life awesome.

It started with a quite: "The good news is that one person has what it takes to change the world. The bad news is that you haven't realized that it's you." I don't remember who said it, but I loved that quote. But for the longest time I had no clue it was talking about me.

That changed last year. I won't go into details to protect her privacy but someone I love was hurting really badly. I wished I could help her, make her a little happier. See, I would take on the world for any of my friends and she was no different. That's when my old quote popped into my head. I could do something. I could change the world. So I decided to try.

My goal was simple: to make the world a little happier. Being there to listen, telling sincere compliments, writing letters, giving our friendship bracelets, just a few things I try to do every day. I even listen to strangers vent online, giving advice where appropriate, and started a blog dedicated to my cause.

But if I'm pouring my heart out to some internet stranger, I might as well be honest. See, no one ever said changing the world would be easy, but neither did they say how heart breaking it can be. I learned that the night I failed to talk someone out of suicide. But now I know it's worth the hurt. Because since then I've touched countless other hearts and even saved three lives. Making a difference and inspiring others is all I want to do with my life and I could not be more excited to see what the future holds.

But I didn't write this to talk about my story. No, I want to talk about yours. Reading this, right now, is someone with the ability to cure all sorts of diseases, if they only believed in that skill and took a chance on it. Reading this, is someone whose art could hang in galleries all across the country, if only they decided to chase that dream down. Reading this, is someone who has the potential to raise millions of dollars to end hunger, if they only had the courage to start. Every single person at this site has undiscovered potential, creativity, and intelligence. And it will stay undiscovered unless something or someone brings it out. What's your passion? Whatever it is, your dream comes second to nothing. Because when everyone is chasing their goals, and being the best they can be, the world automatically becomes a better place.

So before I go today, just think about something: What's stopping you from doing something beautiful? Something inspirational? Something life-changing, or even world-changing? Because chances are, the only thing stopping you is yourself. Chances are, you sell yourself short. You haven't let go of that voice in the back of your mind that says you can't do something awesome. But you've forgotten something: that voice doesn't know your potential, your creativity, your intelligence. That voice is holding you back. That voice is a liar. You can accomplish more than you think with a simple goal and some motivation. All you have to do is realize that quote wasn't just talking about me. It's talking about you.

*****

Sheila is currently a freshman in college and wants to be an inspirational speaker when she grows up. When she's not trying to change the world, she loves running, baking, and drawing. Catch up with her or share your own world-changing story at http://how-to-save-the-world-by-eva-marie.blogspot.ca/.