“It is that American spirit, that American promise, that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend. That promise is our greatest inheritance.”
— Senator Barack Obama, National Democratic Convention 2008
These sentences inspired me to leap off my bed to grab a pen so that I could scribble words that would later remind me of a message I did not want to forget. How often we take for granted the most valuable benefit of being a United States citizen—our freedom to strive for a better life.
I speak to so many people who are afraid to make a new choice; afraid of taking a risk, afraid of taking steps backward in order to move forward, and afraid of making a big mistake. As someone who has been there, too, I’ve learned that the one thing that keeps me pushing forward is believing that the better place does lie around the corner and that I can get there if only I keep doing the necessary work.
How to move forward through uncertainty and risk:
1. Believe that the achievement you want is possible for you.
2. Acknowledge that what you have to gain is far greater than what you have to lose.
3. Begin every day focusing on a vision of your success.
4. Don’t allow yourself to dwell on thoughts of failure.
5. Believe in your ability to stay committed to the necessary work.
6. Hold yourself responsible every day to take the necessary steps.
