Creation Thoughts

I was reading an interesting discussion in a business forum recently that debated whether it was better for a person to take a giant leap or baby-step their way into starting a business.

Many people had a strong belief that a person needs a fire under their butt in order to really succeed, and a leap of faith is the only way to force themselves to do it. Others felt that such rash action would be sheer suicide, leading only to financial ruin and regret.

I couldn’t help applying these concepts to ANY goal we have in life, whether business or personal.

I’ve written on both topics; taking baby-steps to the achievement of a goal, as well as the benefits of taking a giant leap of faith toward your dreams.

In fact, I’ve DONE both of those myself at various times! I’ve had my rear burned by the “fire of urgent necessity,” and I’ve also taken a more moderate, gentle approach to creating what I wanted.

Which is better?

I think it depends on one single factor: how prepared you are.

In order to take a leap of faith, you really HAVE to have some kind of preparation under your belt. You have to have gone through a bit of a learning curve and gained the skills you’ll need to succeed. Once you have those skills and you’ve prepared as much as you can, there is nothing left to do but leap and pray your parachute opens.

Taking a leap of faith before you’ve laid a solid foundation of knowledge and skills can thrust you quickly into a level of intensity that you won’t be ready for. Then, one of two things will likely happen:

1) You’ll develop the skills out of sheer desperate need to save your butt, or -

2) You’ll fail.

Failing is not such a bad thing, believe it or not. Put it this way:

You’ll learn more from one failed attempt than you would from a lifetime of never trying at all.

The hardest part is knowing whether you’re REALLY ready to take a leap of faith - or if it’s just wishful thinking.

There have been times when I took a leap of faith fully believing I was ready, but I was far from ready. And yes, I failed. I wanted to be ready. I desperately wanted to begin living my life purpose and I convinced myself I was ready - but I wasn’t finished developing the skills I would use later.

As I look back now, I can see that everything I’ve done in the past has led me surely to this point in my life. All of the jobs I hated so passionately but felt trapped by have given me the skills I use every day now. The past couple of decades have been one long lesson that prepared me for what I’m doing now. You can probably see a similar progression in your own life and work - how even the things you didn’t enjoy taught you something valuable.

If you are not yet doing what you believe to be your life purpose; if you are not yet living your heart’s desires and you are tempted to take a leap of faith but not sure if you are really ready, let me offer this advice:

When the time is right for you to move forward, you’ll feel it in your gut. In your heart. Way down deep in your bones.

You’ll reach a point where doing anything BUT your life’s calling will be unthinkable. You’ll be completely out of options and unwilling to settle for anything less than what you truly want - no matter HOW DIFFICULT it might be to achieve it, and you’ll be willing to go through the fire of urgent necessity to make it to the other side. Even if it means you have to fail a few times before you get there.

The truth is, there is no right or wrong way to your heart’s desire. Some people MUST take the leap of faith because they just won’t do it otherwise. Other people shudder at the thought of such a drastic move and prefer to move slowly and steadily toward what they want.

Do what your heart says you should do, and you can’t go wrong.

Wendy
CreationThoughts.com
WingsfortheHeart.com
VisualizeProsperityBook.com

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