Have you ever seen an optical illusion? Printed circles look like they are moving, evenly spaced dots appear and disappear, lines that seem to bend are actually straight. These illusions can seem so real, and it can be difficult not to be fooled. No matter how hard you try to focus, the circles keep moving, the dots keep blinking, and the lines don’t get any straighter. To us they seem one way, but actually they are not that way. That’s why they are called illusions.
Do you have any illusions in your life, things you believe to be true but they’re not? Probably. I think we all do. We just don’t know it, and of course we don’t call them illusions. That would be too obvious. Let’s try calling it something else. Other words for some of these illusions are fears, worries, or limiting beliefs. They are not necessarily true, but we believe them just the same. In fact we base many of our decisions on them, and sometimes we even let these illusions direct our entire lives.
Maybe we had a dream that someone said would never work, and we stopped pursuing it. We believed them. Maybe a teacher told us we were not smart enough. We trusted them and believed them. We never forgot what they said and it has shaped the way we look at ourselves and what we thought we were capable of. Maybe we tried something once and failed, and were told we could never make it, and we gave up.
Just like the illusions, these limiting beliefs and doubts and fears can seem so real. And if believe them, they become real to us. We use them as a foundation for our lives. Is it then any wonder that life doesn’t go the way we want?
Don’t believe it when others tell you that you are not good enough, that your dream will never work. Don’t build your life based on what others tell us you is possible. It’s your life, and your dream. Leave those illusions behind, and focus on the potential, concentrate on the possibilities, keep your eyes on your goals, and make your dreams your new reality.
