What are you currently a symbol of? It’s an important question to ask yourself once in a while. Every one of us is a symbol of something. That symbol can be positive or negative, and we are in complete control. Too many people either stand for nothing or stand for something that has a negative connotation. Ask yourself right now, “how do others see me?”
We may succeed, or we may fail with our dream of what we think is possible, but the results we get along the way are in many ways more powerful than achieving our ultimate goal. The journey builds muscle and helps increase our perception of possibility for the future.
When we set out to achieve our next goal, our positive thoughts about possibility increase. If all of us just expanded our scale of possibility by a few notches, we could achieve so much more. Richard Branson believes that he can achieve anything which is why he took on British Airways, by starting Virgin Airlines, and won.
Everyone thought he was crazy and that he was taking big risks; he didn’t allow himself to believe them. His perception of his own strengths and what he could achieve were just far greater than everyone else. That’s why the results Richard has achieved are far more significant than most.
It’s time for you to increase your positive thoughts around what you think is possible, and then become a symbol of possibility for everyone else. Below are four ways to become that symbol.
1. Start with you and crush your own goals
Before you can become the symbol of possibility for others you, you need to become the symbol for yourself. You need to work out what you stand for and how you see yourself currently. Once you have asked yourself this question you may find that the answer is not what you hoped for.
A negative answer is okay it just means that you will need to begin a process of growth to alter the outcome. Through the growth process, you will learn how to become a symbol of possibility. The easiest and simplest way to demonstrate possibility to others is by crushing your goals.
Each time you achieve a goal and do something that people around you thought couldn’t be done, you are becoming a symbol of what’s possible in life. What a great gift to give back to society.
2. Be Vulnerable
The only way you can ever be a symbol of possibility for others is to start finding ways to be vulnerable. Through the process there is a chance that you may get wounded, you may fall, or you could get criticised. All of these things are fine and remember that none of them are permanent.
Until you are ready to show your true self and demonstrate your beliefs to the world, no one else is ever going to see you as a symbol of possibility. Through the evolution of becoming vulnerable and doing what is uncomfortable, those around you will see you push through your limits.
They will watch you become something positive for everyone you come into contact with, and your opinion will suddenly matter much more. The feeling you get from increasing how vulnerable you are will give you the motivation you need to take the extra step and become the symbol.
Being a symbol of possibility is not something that is easily achieved, and the task should not be taken lightly. You have what it takes; you just need to draw on your belief to get there.
3. Help others to dream
To compound the results further, you can share your story of possibility and success with others. This broadens your reach and helps you to become a symbol for people on a much larger scale. You should never want to hide what you have done and instead, use it to help others to dream and achieve the results that you have been able to get to.
In sharing what you think is possible and demonstrating how you have achieved or are achieving your dream, you’re by default, helping humanity. The real fulfilment in your life won’t come from your own beliefs about what’s possible and your success, it will come from helping others to come along that same journey.
Through this journey you have the chance to become a positive symbol for others, not to be a celebrity, but to be outstanding. By being outstanding, you get to have unique opportunities that can further progress your own personal goals.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that helping others to dream requires a huge amount of work. It might just be short messages on social media or sharing a podcast with the world. The point is to have an impact by helping everyone else to believe that anything is possible.
4. Stand for something inspiring
The word’s possibility and symbol both have a positive meaning. So, to become a symbol of possibility, you need to stand for something that is inspiring. You need to stand for something that others will be drawn to, and that helps them achieve their dream in some small way.
When you dedicate your life to going against the naysayers and doing what you can to inspire others, you feel like a different person, and you become something that defies possibility itself. Standing for something will require you to stand tall, with passion, and with an unwavering belief in what is possible.
“In the vision of my own life, I stand for people living their dream and doing whatever they can to be happy. I stand for going the extra mile even when you have nothing left in the tank. I stand for going against the norm and not being afraid of what others might say about you”
While I don’t consider myself to be a symbol of possibility yet, I hope to reach this level at some point in my life, and I am prepared to deal with whatever sacrifices it takes to get there.
This article is a great read for me, as I had always thought being a celebrity was the symbol of possibility.
well about vulnerability, though I am an entrepreneur I feel like I really have to achieve my goals or be successful to a significant degree before I dare to tell people about my investment, therefore I can’t even share my experience which could inspire people.
Please how do I come out of this shell? or should I lay low till I have something to show for my investment?
Anefu Peter From Nigeria
I totally missed that article. Saw it the other day but was busy to read and just forgot about. So many opened tabs in my browser as so many good things to learn.
Love the picture, I watched so many documentaries about NASA Space program. Good choice. Also a very good question to ask ‘how do others see me?’ Now I’m going to wonder all night.. Or should I ask others perhaps?
I have been studying the subject of belief lately and have come to realise that you have to become your #1 fan. You have to love yourself and what you do, you have to be your own support team first so, if don’t like/believe in yourself, why on earth other people should? I really like it and very much agree on your first point. During my life, despite having support from family, I got the idea that you are the one who can shift your life and make action. Others may be a great help, but without your own choice and desire you’ll achieve little to nothing.
New thing for me is vulnerability, as I belong to those who wants everything to be perfect. Just everything. I enjoy getting out my comfort zone from time to time, but being vulnerable seem to me like a new experience. And I going to test it right away (well not exactly right away as it’s quite late for me). I’m going to visit gym early in the morning and then be ready for my job. My eye isn’t fully recovered and doesn’t look pretty but I am goinf out anyway. We all humans and not all the time our appearance should be perfect.. If some won’t like it, well.. too bad for them. And quite a test for me lol!
Your 3d point to help others to dream a very important one. As I’m still in search to discover my purpose, I like the idea of sharing anything of help, and as I past through some different struggles alone my journey, I can share some of the sotries and experience with those who seek help and advice. I actually enjoy it and believe in idea you have to give first before you can recieve. I love to practice random gifts for my friends in some random days, so need to do step forward and perhaps… help others to dream. Because, why not 🙂
Should thank you for thought-provoking article, Tim. You really are have some talent to put words together and boy, how many themes and ideas wonders within your head. I think that is the so called ‘flow’ you are in, or you just really loves what you do. Thank you for everything, have a wonderful time of day!
Toño others will see you in many different ways. The important thing to know is how do yous ee yourself?
I think being vulnerable is a rather new experience for me as well Toño but there are different levels. Would you show your darkest secrets to 40,000 people? I did, and it was a strangely uplifting experience. I think you have it in you to do a similar act yourself.
Cheers for the kind words as always and I appreciate the fact that you read every single article I write and share your knowledge.
This article is a great path to follow. For myself I’m starting with videos to help people better themselves and see in a new light. These videos were just a thought a few years ago and now I am continuing with more of them. I want to show others that things are possible even when you are scared of what can happen. Once you overcome your fear you can bring inspiration.
Nick thanks for sharing your point of view. I think your videos are a great way to start. Overcoming fear is a roadblock for so many of us. I look forward to seeing more of your work.