When you come from a culture where storytelling is a lifestyle, it’s not unusual to not feel the pressure. We were asked to tell stories orally in kindergarten, pre-school and primary. Constantly, told to use our imagination often. When certain people got up to tell stories, you knew it was going to be really good or really bad. You could tell by the gasps or the polite clapping which ones captured people’s imagination. My dad was a good story teller and so is my sister. They made plain stories enjoyable and have a knack on how to make it sound new. Even though you have heard the stories a thousand times before.

Making up stories slowly became easy, I guess that’s why kids tend to lie a lot. They are just making use of the advice they were given. Exercising their imagination and trying to see how this game plays out in real life. Then they’re caught. Some make up excuses to get them out of the situations, while others just feel embarrassed. What if everyone was as sincere as animals? The thing I love about animals especially dogs, is you can clearly see the shame or guilt when they have done something wrong. When you catch a glimpse of that look. You wonder what they did, then when you finally see it! They knowingly run away or have this surrender look. 

Is there something you like doing that comes naturally to you, that you can’t explain why you have a knowing or knack for things? Do you get shamed for those things? Then because it wasn’t respectable or viable you push it away and diminish it. Then now you see all the hobbies or non-viable activities you had as a child are actually real jobs? How does that make you feel?

When you see 10 year old’s who have published 3 books. 10 year old’s who are millionaires from selling lemonade. People who travel the world because they just make videos or take beautiful pictures of their lives. Dj’s who are barely teens. In them, there is a common factor. Once the child or person made a decision that that’s what they wanted to do. They declared it and had supportive guardians; who were willing to take them seriously. With no expectations of how things would pan out. In the end these kids exceeded their expectations and imagination. 

What if for once we would listen to our inner-child and seek the things our heart desired. Children can be relentless when they want something. You won’t hear the end of it. As adults we hear one NO and our worlds crumble. We focus on the no and forget how relentless and annoying we were.

There are days we struggle with saying yes to our desires and focus on what others will think of us.

Sometimes when we express our desires, people tend to discourage us. The most common statement I have heard is “There are so many x out there…”“You need to do this…”and usually coming from those who have no clue about the industry. At the end of the day, it is you that will have to live with regret, so you go ahead and follow through with your plans. Then the same people come to tell you that you’re doing a great job. While others sit on the side-lines counting on you to fall flat and are waiting for the “I told you so”. Others will be quick to praise and say they knew you, when you reach a level of success that they never imagined. 

You have a calling, you have a purpose. Whether it’s in entertainment, medicine, agriculture, sustainable energy, storytelling, fitness, nutrition, beauty, sports, hygiene the possibilities are endless. You do not have to necessarily be an entrepreneur to affect change. Working in your firm or the government you can affect change. There's always something in us that wishes we could have done or do better. Listen to that voice. 

Why do I know this is possible? You are reading this on a handset or device in a different part of the world and time-zone in technology that wasn’t available to us civilians 50 years ago. Plus, they are constantly trying to improve it. If you had told this to someone years ago, they would have laughed at you. What would you like to look back on 50 years from now?

“When you find your path, you must not be afraid. You need to have sufficient courage to make mistakes. Disappointment, defeat and despair are the tools God uses to show us the way”

- Paulo Coelho

Ps: Did you catch the podcast this week?