“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” — Mark Twain
15 years ago, at a Burger King restaurant in Omaha, NE, I sat across the table from an important mentor in my life named Rudy. I had questions about my future. Specifically, I had doubts about a path I had chosen with my life. I needed some encouragement to continue.
After describing the emotions and fears I had been experiencing over the past several months, Rudy responded with a simple statement, “I think you can do it. In fact, there is no doubt in my mind that you can accomplish what you are seeking. I have complete confidence in you.”
15 years later, I still recall that specific conversation as one of the most influential moments in my life. Not because it solved my problems or eliminated the hard work ahead of me. But because it gave me the one resource needed to persevere: hope.
Hope is one of the greatest assets in the entire world. It is one of the greatest treasures we can ever find for ourselves. And it is one of the greatest gifts we can ever give to somebody else.
Hope provides us with motivation to persevere. It calls us to dream dreams of significance and influence. It begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.
And as I discovered that Tuesday afternoon on 114th and Dodge, hope is often found in the relationships we have secured around us. After all, when hope in ourselves begins to diminish (as it will at times), we must look elsewhere. In those moments, we look towards those around us for confidence and hope.
Surround yourself with people who speak confidence in your life. Nurture relationships with optimistic people who have overcome trial and hardship. Remove people from your direct sphere of influence who discourage you, trample your creativity, or who are so self-absorbed they never help others. Instead, seek people who inspire and believe in you.
In turn, do the same for others. See the good. Believe in potential. And encourage daily.
Sow hope in the soul of everyone you meet. (tweet that)
Image: Aah-Yeah
new says
Oh my God, you inspire me. Thank you.
sladana says
Hi Joshua! First of all I want to thank you for encouraeging us to live simple and enjoy in life. I have to admit that my state of mind has a very good influence on the way I live and on the stuff I posses. When you discard all those negative feelings you have time to get rid off all those stuff that you don’t need. Looking forward into my life I realize now that I couldn’t let go anything… feelings, stuff… for me that is the same because mess in mind, creates mess all around you. So when I see someones house in mess (cluttered mess)my first tought is… How cluttered is her mind? So, Joshua, you are not just helping us get rid of the stuff…for me that is more than that. For me that is oportunity to take more, to take better from life. So thank you and just do more what makes you happy! :-)
Grettings from Bosnia & Herzegovina
Tony W says
Sowing Hope can be contagious. Rudy created a positive memory doing so for you and your received it. As you pass this positive message on in deed and practice to your children and others and they do the same and so on . . .
Rick says
I so need those people in my life. There seems to be no one close to me who encourages me.
Milad says
Thank you
I agree with you
Magi says
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” — Mark Twain
The thing is to also be able to keep yourself going if you are alone 98% of the time- and not take to heart those who’s encouragement were once so very important and uplifting are either no longer here or no longer entertain the thought of you- if you are invisible or dead to most, their former encouragements no longer feel sincere- they not only didn’t notice you leaving the room- they never knew or cared that you were there to begin with- that is a real challenge to succeed in ones own efforts to many.
petra says
Brenda, thank you so much for sharing your story. It really touched me and is the reason for me to write my first comment here. I sometimes feel useless, but knowing that a few words, spoken with love, can change the world for someone else gives me new perspective.
Thank you!