Being Unstoppable

At 9:00 PM, Christmas evening, wearing my favorite pajamas, I headed the local cheap movie theater in my village to see Unstoppable. 

    

The movie was exactly what you would expect, leaving me with all the normal viewer reactions: heartstrings tugged, on the edge of my seat, & gazing longingly into Chris Pine’s dreamy crystal blue eyes.  [Swoon.]

Unstoppable also left me in a place of pondering. 
I want to be unstoppable.
I want to dream big.
I want to pursue my goals.
I want to show kindness and love.
I want to seep compassion from my being.
I don’t ever want to be able to be stopped in these things.

I’ve started to think about what it takes for me to be unstoppable.

 
In dreaming big, it’s an open mind and freedom of creativity.  Not allowing anything to put a cap on my ability to see past where I am, or hold me back from imagining all places I can go and all the things I can do to get there.

In pursuing my goals, a plan is key for my success.  I’ve learned that listing, scheduling, and knowing what’s ahead of me is the best way for me to keep reaching for whatever I’m seeking.  These things give me a sense of control, which encourages me not to give up on what I want.

I’ve learned that in order to give kindness, love, and compassion, I need to surround myself with people who give these to me, too.  When I worked in ministry, I was often reminded that I needed to “fill my cup”, in order to ‘fill the cups’ of others.  If I want to give goodness in my relationships, I need to be in relationships in which I too receive goodness. This may mean limiting my time with the people in my life who drain me emotionally, spiritually, or mentally. This also means filling my time corresponding with, and simply being in the presence of, people who show kindness, love, and compassion.  [NOTE: As bloggers/readers/tweeters/internet-lovers this means who you surround yourself with online, too!]

 

Before the creativity and the planning, and the list and the schedules…
Before the encouragement, and the people you surround yourself with there…
Before filling cups and having cups filled…
Before all of it, there is one thing I’ve come to realize is necessary in being unstoppable;

Courage to be self-confident.

For a long time, I didn’t think my dreams mattered.  I put my goals on the back burner in order to support the dreams and goals of others.  I capped myself, and cowered behind being the supportive one.  It was easier, more comfortable, and safe in the box I build around myself.

I failed to fully live a life of kindness, compassion, and love because for a long time, I failed to give MYSELF those things. Looking back, I think sub-consciously I didn’t believe I deserved those things.

A little over a year ago, something changed.  I realized that I needed to DECIDE to accept the self-confidence that was within me. It wasn’t something that came naturally to me, and at first, I admit, it was scary.  It took effort and COURAGE to say, “I am me. This is who I am, and this is who I want to be.”  And now, I realize, I am unstoppable.

You are unstoppable, too. Take courage, dear one.