By Gail Lynne Goodwin.
Life may provide the circumstances, but we get to choose how to respond to them.
I’ve just returned from sailing with a mastermind group in the British Virgin Islands. We set sail from Anegada to The Bitter End in Virgin Gorda, which is backwards from the trek that most sailors take. As we were sailing our course, there were a lot of boats sailing directly towards us, a 180 degree different heading from our own.
One of our crew, who is new to sailing, mentioned that he was amazed that we were able to sail in completely different directions, using the same wind. I laughed and told him there was a great blog post in that comment.
When you think about it, many people have experiences and use them as excuses for where they are in life. Yet different people use those exact same experiences not as excuses, but rather, as a way to propel them into something greater. They both have the same wind, but they’re using the wind differently. They’re making different choices.
What choices are you making? What are your excuses? What stories have you been telling yourself for too long? (I can’t do that because….) Most important, how can you turn your past experiences into something that can propel you towards your goal, rather than keep them as excuses to hold you where you are?
Gail Lynne Goodwin is the founder of InspireMeToday.com, bringing the best inspiration to the world. InspireMeToday.com provides free inspiration, each day from a new Inspirational Luminary, to a global community of folks from over 150 countries. Gail has interviewed many well-known names including Sir Richard Branson, Guy Laliberte, Seth Godin, Tony Hseih, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Gerber, Marci Shimoff, Jack Canfield and hundreds more. According to Mashable, Gail was one of 2009's Top 25 Most Inspirational People on Twitter.
Prior to InspireMeToday.com, Gail spent several years as manager for her recording artist daughter, Carly. As a result of the success of their co-penned song, "Baby Come Back Home", Gail accompanied her daughter to bases in the US and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where Carly performed for our troops. Gail and Carly created the 'World's Longest Letter' of love and support and delivered the 18-mile long scroll on a month-long tour of Iraq and the Persian Gulf in 2006.
Gail is excited to present her latest course, Love in 21 Days, a step-by-step guide to finding love online. Love in 21 Days is founded on a logical process that has been tested - and proven! - by not only Gail, but also by students around the world who too have found love.
Gail is a published author and a regular writer for the Huffington Post. She offers mentoring and mastermind services to clients worldwide from her home in Whitefish, Montana. Follow Gail on Twitter or Google+.
Gail, first of all — I think it is fabulous that you go sailing with your Mastermind Group! I LOVE the message and powerful imagery…we all have the same wind – it is how we choose to use it. I know that to be true in my life. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for your website and the words that provide so much positiive inspiration in a world that is full of uncertainties. Today’s message from you strikes at the very core of my recent life events….getting laid off……frustrated…tired……wondering if I should take the easy job and make excuses for why I can’t land the great job. Thank You!!!