The Imaginary Brick Wall

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve. Thoughts are things! And powerful things at that, when mixed with definiteness of purpose, and burning desire, can be translated into riches." "You are not your resume, you are your work."

As people, we are all trying to achieve something in life. Whether it is becoming CEO of a corporate company, or trying to obtain your degree in college. We all are striving for something. It could be the smallest of things, or the biggest, but we all are. There comes a point in whatever we are trying to achieve when things get really challenging. When things seem impossible to get around. It feels as if you are stuck and cannot beat this obstacle that is now in your path. I like to call this the imaginary brick wall.

I'm sure many people have a lot of different names for it, but for now lets use that. It can be a daunting wall. This wall may seem like it has been permanently built there and there is no way for you to get through it or around it. But there is. I would like to tell you a brief story in relation to this topic. To protect this persons identity lets call him John.

John was an athlete all his life. He played all the sports you could name and was naturally very good at it. He was always one of the best players on the team in the sport he participated in. As he grew older he decided that soccer was his passion. He wished to pursue it as a full time career one day. So in order to do so he had to join a soccer club, in hopes of bettering himself as a soccer player and getting recognized. He found a club and started playing with them. John instantly picked up he was as good as the players around him, but not nearly as physically fit. He would train with the team and a quatre way through be completely out of stamina. The level of soccer was clearly a lot higher than what he is used to playing. John soon realized he was faced was a massive brick wall in his journey to becoming a professional. He had countless arguments with his parents about how he couldn't take it anymore. He would yell at them, asking them to please put him in another club. It was a very challenging time for john. John new he was facing an uphill battle. That everything was going to be a lot of effort and everything would be a fight. He new that he had a massive brick wall standing in the way of him becoming the best in the team, and eventually playing professional soccer.

As cliché as it sounds . John did not let this moment define him. He started to come to training earlier, and left later. John would run home after every training session instead of taking the bus home. This meant not just coming home later , but also not being able to see his friends that often. A month went by and he started getting fitter, stronger, faster. Another month went by and the wall that stood in front of him achieving his goal became smaller. By the third month, john was not only playing the whole practice without getting tired. John was not only continuously running home from training. He became the best player in the team. The club held their annually awards ceremony. John won the gold medal for most improved player of the year in only 3 months and was presented the award by a professional teams captain.

Now we look at this story and what do we think ? Do we think that it is another cliché story? Do we think, Oh its just soccer how easy could that be. Or do we take this story of a local soccer player and how he broke down the brick wall that stood in the way of him ultimately achieving what he set out to do, and learn from it. This may not of been a story of a boy who went on to becoming the best player in the world and earning millions of dollars. This may not be a story of a boy who ended up becoming the most famous person on earth. But this is a story of an 'average' person like most of us breaking down that wall with perseverance, determination and the right mindset. Because in the end, if we take a step back, and realize. We are that 'average' Joe. We are to capable of doing exactly what John did, but in our own lives.

So yes your story most likely is different, bur hey its your story! It is your life! You define who you are! You are the author of this beautiful life you have. There is always going to be that imaginary brick wall that stands in the way of something big, or small you are wanting to achieve. Always. Nothing comes easy. Even when it does there are strings attached. Do not let this obstacle in your way define you. You are a strong independent person who is capable of getting through whatever comes in your way! No one said it will be easy. Rome was not build in a day. It is going to take some time. Be patient with yourself. As crazy as it may seem, try and enjoy the process. After all you are only here once so why the hell not right?! Remember as I said before, start by changing your mindset. Baby steps. You can get through anything. I promise. Believe in yourself. Get up with the attitude that today I am to work hard! Today I am going to get something done! Today's challenges will not break me! Keep fighting, never stop.

There will come a time when you break through the problems you are facing and see the light at the end of the tunnel. When that times comes. You will appreciate it even more knowing you fought for it. You never gave up. You persevered through it. Keep going. You can do this.

Junaid. M

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."