The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Peter Drucker

How many of you try to guess when good things will come your way? You might be anticipating that today or even within the next year, you’ll:

• Get a raise from your employer
• Reach a certain dollar amount in your bank account
• Finally meet that special someone

To some degree, this is dreaming, and that’s okay. Dreaming is what frees up your mind to think beyond its current capacity. After all, without dreams, how else could we explore the endless variations of what’s possible in life?

However, dreaming can also be a double-edged sword. The more time we spend thinking about what life could be like, the less we do things that actually affect our lives. Simply believing in positive thoughts or a brighter future is not enough to actually make it happen. This type of mental affirmation is great for changing your mood and attitude. However, if you want real change to occur, then you’re going to have to do the heavy work of developing the right skills and taking actions that will bring you closer to your goal.

It wasn’t all that long ago that I had my own dream of starting a nurse practitioner business. Instead of working for someone else, I had a strong desire to set out on my own. But, like many young entrepreneurs, I didn’t know where to start. 

Rather than waiting for my business to appear magically, I started taking action. I began reading as much advice as possible and made progress step by step. It was scary at first, and I certainly made some mistakes along the way. But the whole time, I knew that the reward of making my dream a reality far exceeded any fears I had.

Many people in life are waiting around for the right moment or even permission to do something they want. But no one ever taps you on the shoulder and tells you to go ahead. You can’t predict what will happen tomorrow or next year any more than anyone else. So why not take destiny into your own hands and decide for yourself what the future will be?