Inspired Dreams: Rise Above it

Last updated on January 28th, 2020 at 03:28 pm

It’s time to get up and make your big dream happen.

It’s time to quit living in the imaginary world of “daydreaming about your dream” and be inspired enough to take action. A new life awaits you when you rise above what is holding you back from working on what you want to achieve.

Last year, I let go of a full-time media design career to follow my passion. I felt drawn to launch a public speaking career. It was a bold move, but this action changed my life. I learned how essential it is to be brave. It was rewarding to push past my fears to embark upon my passion to inspire women to go after their dreams.

Initially, I wasn’t sure anyone would want to hear what I have to say, but I couldn’t stop myself from pursuing my dream. I worried about taking such a big step with my career until I was invited to speak at an event for women called “I Love Me.”

The assembly was in a home in the beautiful suburb of Bishops Court in Cape Town, South Africa. I was nervous when I first arrived, but I overcame my fear the minute I saw the hostess. She is someone from back in my modeling days when she was a clothing designer. She jokingly said, “I almost told you to go join the models upstairs.” Realizing how much we’d changed, we both laughed. It felt like a sign that I was about to have a great time talking to these women.

When it was my turn to speak, I kept my mind clear of any negativity. I believed I deserved the best from the audience. I took a deep breath, centered myself and began to share how women can rise above setbacks and pursue their passions.

Summary of my Inspired Big Dreams by Rising Above Presentation

1. Rise Above Negativity

We should rise above the negative talk we hear people say about who we are. We are more than what we think, or what others may negatively say. Quit believing in the bad, the awful, and the cynical. The “negative people” do not deserve your precious time.

My Advice:
You can rise above negativity by focusing on your inspired dreams. Ignore what is not true and pursue to live your own truth.

2. Rise Above Self-doubt

Self-doubt is really the lack of self-confidence. The minute you think you are not worthy of the best in life — BOOM– there’s self-doubt waiting to have a little chat with you. The voices of self-doubt are dangerous. They can harm you emotionally and can be detrimental to your happiness.

My Advice:
Learn to change your language. Turn your “I want” into “I can,” “I’ll try” into “I will.” Don’t allow self-doubt to take over your big dream or put you in situations that don’t provide you with what you deserve.

3. Rise Above Pessimistic Influences

Pessimistic influences can be anything from what you watch on TV, to what you read. It can come in the form of a cynical family member, colleagues, and even those who don’t respect your boundaries.

My Advice:
Overcome pessimism by avoiding the source. If it makes you sad, angry or feel down, don’t entertain it in your life. Stay away from anything that turns your smile into a frown. Continue to work on your positive outlook about your big dream on a daily basis.

4. Rise Above Betrayal

Everyone has been hurt and disappointed in life by the people we’ve thought loved us and seemed to have our best interests at heart, only to find out that they want to see us fail. Backbiters are people who feel threatened by what you are trying to accomplish because they are too afraid to create something for themselves. They try to injure you emotionally to bring you down so that they can avoid change. Do not let anyone rob you of your big dream.

My advice:
Forgive them and move on. Eliminate energy vampires from your life and focus on the positive people who support your efforts and encourage you to keep trying. No betrayer deserves your time or tears.

5. Rise Above Challenges

Challenges are tough. Every single day you are bombarded with unexpected challenges that can throw you off your dream course. It can be something as simple as college exams, a new job, family issues, or just attempting something new that isn’t going the way you hoped. Typically, you want to complain and find a reason to give up, but quitting will only make you feel worse.

My Advice:
Be brave and meet your challenges. Understand that you have what it takes to get through it. When it comes to challenges, it’s mostly a mental exercise. Program your mind to win battles before you experience them in your physical world. Do not allow denial and hopelessness to creep into your heart. Instead, love yourself enough to believe that you have what it takes to overcome your challenges.

6. Rise Above The Negative Mirror

Too many women wake up not liking who they are. They hate what they see in the mirror. They think that it is perfectly okay to look at their reflection and insult how they look. Sound familiar? Why do you allow your mind to do this to yourself and think it’s okay? If you aren’t for you, who is?

My advice:
Compliment yourself more. Make a list of things you love about you. Do you like your eyes? Your hair? Your brain? Decide today that you can ignore negative voices and look to the possibility that tomorrow brings. You are not your past! You are better than what you think about yourself! There will never be anyone on this earth ever again like you. EVER. AGAIN.

I ended my speech with this beautiful quote by Bel Claveria Carig Martinez:

I can’t do anything about the past, and I don’t know what the future holds. But when I wake up in the morning, I can make up my mind to do my best to enjoy my day; I will strive higher, rise above obstacles and live in health, abundance, and victory. I submitted myself to God, and my all is in his hands. God will strengthen my weakness, and He will heal my pain and bruises.”

Seeing women touched by my words–hugging me and sincerely thanking me–gave me such joy. It felt so wonderful, in fact, that I didn’t want the experience to end. I wanted more. Then I knew I was truly pursuing my passion and doing what I was meant to do.

Here is a short clip of my Speech:

Be inspired to rise above your current situation. Rise above what is holding you back from going after your big dream instead of merely daydreaming about your vision. Choose to do what makes you feel good and push yourself to be brave and show up fully in the world.

Sue Faith Levy