Are You Scared Of Your Thoughts?

In the 1800’s, people believed that the air they breathed would cause extreme sickness. People. Just like you and I. The fact that the cities they were living in were having waste dumped into the water supply was an afterthought. The “toxic air” wasn’t toxic at all. They were just drinking their neighbors waste unknowingly. No big deal.

You probably read that and kept thinking how unimaginable that is. It’s common sense now even in some of the most primitive lands. What happened? One person figured it out. One person had the courage to speak their mind and do something about it. They had to convince just one other person. Then there would be two “crazy” people with a radical idea. Not that the idea was crazy, just that they would be viewed as crazy for thinking and trying to prove something so different. Those two people were able to convince two others. Those four were able to convince four others. Then eight, sixteen, thirty two, sixty four and on and on until the majority understood what was happening. Then the actual crazy people were the ones left hanging on to those old ideas and thoughts and “facts” and not the ones trying to help people to see things differently.

You might have a number of different reasons why you think you cant do something similar. I’ve talked myself out of some great thoughts. Two of the biggest reasons I didn't pursue some of my ideas? Self doubt, lack of self confidence. I lacked the belief that my idea could be successful. How would it get done? Do I have the means to accomplish it? Where will I get the money? How do I figure out where to bring my idea to? Sound familiar? Our mind, the very mind which created the idea, talks us out of it. How could it come up with something so great yet trigger thoughts that can prevent us from taking action?! Our minds and thoughts become so busy, we lose sight of what we wanted. Why deal with all that uncertainty when I can just keep doing things the same? Things are pretty decent right now so why take a chance on something and be unsuccessful? That would be such a waste of my time!

Maybe you say you don't have enough time as it is. You have life to keep you busy. You have a spouse, children, job, mortgage, bills. All valid and important factors to think about. Have you ever tracked your time though? Do you really not have enough time? Or are you just afraid to jump out of your comfort zone in the life that you've created and built for yourself. The average person who works a traditional 9-5 job has roughly about 75 hours of free time a week once you account for work, sleep, etc. Thats more than three full days of time that you have at your disposal? If you just took ten of those hours a week to work on a thought, an idea, a dream and used them to the fullest. Imagine all that you could accomplish every day, every week, every month and every year. Next year at this time could be completely different for you and everyone around you.

It only takes one person. That one person can be yourself, myself, your neighbor, anyone. We have to have enough courage to stand up and be different. To speak different. We have to be willing to make sacrifice from our normal to be able to change the normal around us. Sometimes the status quo, “the way things are” don’t need to be the way they are. What if you're sitting on an idea and it could make someone’s life easier? What if you're sitting on a different viewpoint and it could be groundbreaking in a field that needs a breakthrough. No ideas or thoughts we have are too small. It just takes one small idea or thought to bring about huge change. It just takes some time and sacrifice to make things better for everyone. It all starts with asking ... Why are things like this?