For many years, I didn't believe in myself. Sure, I talked the talk. Said the right things that I thought people wanted to hear. Made empty promises and left many things undone. Why?
I simply did not believe in my life and what I stood for anymore. It was a dark time and I knew that it had consumed a good amount of my life. And those around me probably had no idea how unhappy I was. I didn't want to harm myself mind you. I just didn't have the grit in me to change. I became complacent and just existed like an empty vessel.
I felt stuck in a career that was stifling my creativity. And when I reached out to people who I thought were my friends, that didn't' help at all. They told me I was just in a rut and I would get out of it. They told me I had a great thing going and to hang in there.
When I expressed that I wanted to leave the military and do something else, that's when a lot of people's true colors began to show. I heard things like, "What else do you know how to do?" and "You're a soldier, this all you know." Now that was a big wake up call.
And it hurt big time. People who I admired and held in high regard hurt me to my soul. And in the past I would have agreed and stayed. But this time I didn't. I told myself that my happiness was more important than their friendship and whether they believed in me or not. I had to take a chance and the time was now.
Yes, I was scared out of my mind. I had a wife and three daughters that depended on me. They didn't understand the change no matter how I tried to explain it to them. But I told myself silently the same thing every day and every night: I believe in you. I said it so much that I felt the words calm myself in the face of adversity. And believing in myself is the reason why I am in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia now.
Believing in myself has helped me to become a program manager for a multi-million dollar aviation corporation that I now work for. Believing in myself has me sitting in my villa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia still pinching myself about this opportunity.
I am not saying any of this to brag. I am only sharing my story to show you that it can happen. I am not telling you to follow my route. I am telling you that the dream that you have can be achieved. You know the one that you are scared to tell anyone about. Afraid that they will laugh at you or just won't understand. You can do it.
I believe in you. I believe in your dreams. I just need you to know start to believe in yourself. Stop wasting your time doing things you don't have a desire for.
What have you got to lose?
-- alv
P.S. I know there is someone out there who can benefit from hearing this. Please share it with at least one person who is struggling with this right now. Thank you.