In December of 2006, I came back to the university that I had to leave becuase of financial problems, to an office full of people that told me I would not be able to graduate by May of 2009. Furthermore, that I would not be eligible for any financial aid to cover the tuition costs.
The reason for the deadline was my grandfather's health. Out of the Umpteen grandchildren in my Hispanic family, I wanted to be the first to show my Grandparents just how grand they had taken care of me, by being the first to graduate college.
Long Story short, My grandfather passed away January 1st 2007. Taking away my chances for accomplishing my dream of sharing success with him.
It got harder.....During the rest of my pursuit for my degree, I was fortunate enough to encounter some other adversities...
1- My mother had lost her dream house due to financial difficulties.
2- My brother and I had lost touch, and I decided to cut off the relationship because He should have blah blah blah..
3- I was having to work over 40 hours a week just to pay for college.
4- The woman that I was madly in love with decided to leave...This hurt the most.
There were other things, but they were not as impactful.
Through all of this, I could take meaning in my suffering, that I would appreciate getting my degree more than anyone else in my class. That I had a slim opportunity at turning around things so rapidly, and so quickly, or letting everything fall apart.
Through all of the hurt, I was able to strengthen my faith, and increase the depths of my relationships with friends. It all came down to what I decided to do...
There comes a time in everyone's life, where we decide that we want something. When we decide that the feelings that we are getting from our days are not enough,and that we want more. That we are tired of the same old same old, and letting ourselves feel bad about things that may have happened in the past.
Tony Robbins believes that we are a therapy culture, and that our past defines us. We share experience's that we have been through, and due to the law of commonality, we feel closer to them. Misery loves company sometimes..
I am sure that Myself, and you do not want these types of connections anymore. Thinking about how hard the days are, and how bored we feel, and how mundane the day feels sometimes.
We were not built this way. The Titans of industry, the Carnegies, the Rockafellars, the Astor's and every other family that mastered the art of building an empire did their best in securing their lifestyle by creating companies that had specific, defined roles, that would give people just enough meaning to earn an income; and feel like they were contributing to their company. The roles that they defined led to the way that our corporations treat their employees. But the design of lifestyle was left for us to master.
The spirit of discovery lies dormant in each and every one of us. We are built with the curiosity of the curious. To find new lands, and to learn new ideas, and to experience a new life. Excitement, Passion, Desire, Taking yourself down a road, and then being happy about what you see. Do you remember what it felt like to be that little kid reading about your favorite hero? How excited you were to think that you can do the same? How you imitated that person or idea with everything you had. I can remember taping towels to my back and pretending I was superman.
Jim Rohn said it best when he hit me with "If you change, then everything will change for you"
So Find the things that you want, Change to put yourself on a path towards what you want, and all you have to do is keep going. The question then changes from How can I..... To when is this going to happen? Feel what that does when you ask yourself that question. Imagine what it would be like if you stopped worrying, and started living by faith. When you feel what it is like to be excited about what is going to happen, rather than worry about what isn't happening. Think about it, Imagine it, associate emotion to it, and then Watch it happen right in front of your eyes!!!! I promise it will happen.
Robbins confirms the above by stating: " We do what we do because of what we associate Pain to, and what we associate pleasure to."
Decide what you want, understand why you want it, and ask yourself the right questions about how to get it. Most importantly. Learn what it will feel like. Associate massive amounts of pleasure to it, and you will never give up on it.
It is my pleasure to share with you, that on May 16th 2009; after being told that I could not do it. That there was no chance. With all of the other things in my life deterring my focus. That with all the hurt, and all the pain, and all the mental anguish. With all of the thoughts that race through your head while you are studying in the library at midnight by yourself. When life feels like it is dumping on you, you can look up, see what is falling, and know in your heart of hearts that it does not matter. That no matter how hard things get. You have made a decision, and all you have to do is stick to it. That everything will be ok, and you will make it.
I walked across that stage in front of thousands of strangers with tears of relief, joy, and ultimate happiness. An Empowered feeling, that this moment was mine, and nobody can ever do anything to take that away from me. That I can do what I say I am going to do.
I shook each and every one of my professors hands that day as I walked down the stage. They could see the tears in my eyes. They could feel my pain. Some of them even cried with me. And as I walked back to my seat. I sat down and put my face in my hands, and finally cried all of the pain out. While my friends were busy celebrating...I knew I had to let the pain out and finally let it go. When I lifted my head, It was like I was looking at a new world. Thank you to God, and all of my friends for being there. Thank you to those who told me not to give up. And thank you to everything that was hurtful during that time. It made me who I am today.
How did I get what I wanted? I decided...committed...focused...and fought with more than I was, so that I could become more than I have ever been.
"If you change, everything will change for you." Jim Rohn
Best of luck!!
JC
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