This past week I was in Phoenix for the annual National Speakers Association convention. To say it is a high-energy event is probably an understatement! 3½ days of incredible speakers, stories, education and networking. Not to mention the 112 degree heat, which I have to say, is something I love.
One of the most memorable speeches was given by Nando Perrado. You probably don’t recognize his name but you may recall the story of a plane carrying the Uruguayan rugby team that crashed in the Andes some 35 years ago. The movie Alive, starring Ethan Hawke, was based on this incredible story of a group of young men forced to use desperate measures to survive in the snow-swept Andes mountains. It was Nando’s unwavering courage and sustaining love for his family that kept him alive against all odds. His speech was one of the most inspirational I have ever heard and brought the house down. Many were reduced to tears!
Nando’s compelling story of the brutal challenges he faced puts our miniscule problems into perspective. I doubt there was one person in that audience of 1,000 or so who didn’t come away from that session feeling that if someone could overcome an elephant of a problem, then surely we could deal with an ant. We were all challenged and encouraged to take a broader view of our trials and tribulations.
Mountains of Challenges
What challenges are you currently facing? Are you so embroiled in an issue that it seems insurmountable? Perhaps it might be time to read Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home
and gain a different perspective on how well you are coping with your problems. You may be inspired to make that change that seemed like too much of an obstacle!
It takes courage to follow your passions but ultimately it’s YOUR choice!
Cody McCasland is a boy who knows about courage and passion. When I watched the video about his life, I was bowled over. To say he is an inspiration is an understatement.
He was a premature baby born with a whole host of medical problems and not expected to live. Against all odds he survived, only to then have both his legs amputated. Now at age seven, Cody epitomizes courage, spirit, loving fierceness and the passion to help others through similar situations.
Passions arise from the heart. Living your passions restores a sense of balance and harmony. When you are truly passionate about something, you don’t have to try hard to put your attention on it. It’s fun. It’s engaging. It’s exciting. When challenges arise, they can’t deter you. They may slow you down for a while, but they can’t stop you. Never give up. Never let fear stand between you and your dreams. Never allow yourself to live a life of mediocrity. Not only does passion bring pleasure to you, it makes others want to be around you for the vicarious pleasure.
What if you had the courage to follow your passions? To not let fear get in the way? To forge ahead even if you don’t know how it’s going to turn out? Cody had no idea of what was in store for him but look how his life turned out… Cody on MSNBC
… to venture outside of your comfort zone, to learn something new, to make a difference in the lives of others. If you are like many of today’s Baby Boomers, you have probably wondered whether you had the courage to “get out of that warm, comfortable cozy box”, whether you still had enough brain cells to master something you had not done before and whether it was important to contribute to the world at large. These are issues that come up at midlife when we are driven more by internal motivation than external, when we make a shift from success to significance.
Imagine yourself in this position …
…at the ripe old age of 82, having been home-schooled in your younger days, you decide to go to college to take classes. Although you have spent your whole life appearing in public and making speeches in front of groups ranging in size from the small to the thousands, you believe that your professional speaking skills are lacking. You have always commanded attention due to your persona but now you want to provide input on a more personal level at community hall meetings. Believing you don’t have all the necessary skills, you begin attending weekly classes and occasional monthly labs to improve your speaking skills.
It can take a lot of courage to admit when something isn’t working, and certainly no less so in your senior years. But isn’t it worth it to live a more authentic life; don’t you deserve to take a more active role in living! So if you think it’s too late, perhaps it’s time to think again and take another look at what is going to fulfill you, make you come alive and live up to your potential.
If you find you need a guide to help you discover your passions, those things that are most important to you, or you need support on the journey of becoming a more “authentic you”, please visit me at http://www.blueprints4change.com or email at evelin(at)blueprints4change.com
PS In case you are wondering who the 82-year old is … it’s HRH Queen Elizabeth 2 and yes, this is a true story.
Inspiration | admin | 
July 26, 2009 11:40 am | 
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