Do you know what the biggest killer of dreams is?  It is not outside circumstances or lack of talent or lack of knowledge.  The biggest killer of dreams is worry and fear.  

What do you worry about?  What is constantly on your mind?  What eats at you day and night?  How is it impacting you?   

Whatever you are worried about or fearful of, chances are it will never come to fruition - but it can be a great excuse not to move forward or step out of your comfort zone.  The worry and fear will keep you in the same place if you let them.  That is why they are the killers of dreams.  Because in order to reach your dreams and reach new heights - you will have to push beyond your worries and fear.  And to many, that is very scary. 

What if?  What if? What if?  When you even attempt to push through these things, you will find yourself in the "What if?" stage where you come up with every possible scenario that can go wrong if you push through the worry and fear.  But, what if you did and things went right?  Where would you be?  What could you accomplish if you did not have the worry and fear?

We are pre-wired to focus on the negative and make that the more possible outcome in our lives which is just plain wrong.  We must focus on the positive outcome as that is just as possible or many times, even more possible than the negative outcome.  

For just once, focus on the positive outcome of going for your dreams.  List out all the wonderful things that would happen if you reached them.  Then pick one action you can take toward them.  Set aside the worry and the fear.  They will be there, but take one action toward your dream.  Then once you've done that, take one more action.  Each time, you accomplish one action, pick a new one and keep going.  You'll be amazed at what happens when you focus on reaching your goal one action at a time and how it can eliminate the worry and fear that stands in your way.

We are going into the final month of 2022 and with any year there are things we wanted to do, but did not get to or that we stopped pursuing.  Why?  Maybe we took on too much or maybe we got scared or overwhelmed.  Or maybe we just didn't believe these things were possible.

Here's my challenge to you going into year end and for 2023....

THINK BIGGER AND FACE YOUR CHALLENGES!

People overestimate what they can do in a week and underestimate what they can do in a year.  I want you to think bigger about what you are capable of.  I want you to challenge yourself and what you think is possible.  I want you realize that there are much bigger possibilities for you, that you have more potential than you know.  

It's time to throw off the mindset and habits that have shackled you and kept you at the levels you are at and change your mindset and habits to go to where you want to go.  You can do this in 3 simple steps.

First, pick one bad habit you want to change.  Decide the habit you want to have instead and then go to work and replace it over the next month.  Once you've done this once, you can do it over and over again replacing bad habits with good ones.  Imagine where you will be in a year.

Second, pick one thing that you have not thought was possible for you and go to work until you've made it a reality.  Prove to yourself it is possible.  Do not quit.  As with habits, once you've done this once, you will be able to do it over and over.

Third, face your demons.  You know what your biggest inner struggles are and what needs to be done to overcome them.  Typically, it means change and humans hate change - but it must be done.  It may mean giving something up or starting something new.  Either way, embrace change and do what is needed to face the things you know you need to and work through them before the new year begins.  Throw the albatross off your back, forgive yourself if needed, and move forward.

You have one month before the New Year.  Think bigger, make the changes you know you need to make, and be stronger than ever!

I have always like the Stoic philosophy because it is about individual responsibility and choice - and the ability to endure.  Stoicism is a pursuit of self-mastery and wisdom.  Many of history's greatest minds including people like George Washington sought out the philosophy and studied it.  It is also interesting how many of the same philosophies exist in the Bible, especially in Proverbs.  

We would all do well to follow some of the Stoic philosophy in our lives.  Here are 10 quotes to make you think from top Stoics.

I love Parkinson's Law.  It is the ultimate time management lesson - if you heed it and do the opposite.

Parkinson's Law states that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."  This means that whatever the work that needs to be done, it will take the time allotted for it.  So, if you have something that needs to be done in 3 weeks, it will take you 3 weeks to do it.  It's the perfect definition of procrastination. 

Once you understand Parkinson's Law, it will teach you how to mazmimize your time.  The way to do so is to schedule your work with deadlines shorter than the time alotted for completion.  This will allow you to be exponentially more effective and get more done in less time.  For example, if you have 3 weeks to get something done, schedule it to be completed in 1 week and then go to work.  It forces you to have to be more efficient and productive with your time.  

Just imagine how much more you can get done if you are focused and cutting the time down to accomplish things by 50% or better.  Where could you be 1 month from now?  Two months?  A year?  

Right now, there is a little less than 2 months to the end of year.  What if you started applying this principle today?  How strong could you finish the year?  You may even be able to accomplish goals you didn't think were going to be possible.  This is how you finish the year strong and keep getting stronger.  Make it your mission to defeat Parkinson's Law and watch how much your success improves!