In 1938 Bert Lahr played the role of the cowardly lion in the movie “The Wizard of Oz.”  Despite the movie having only a modest return when released, it went on to become quite popular over many years even until today.

In the movie, the cowardly lion played by Mr. Lahr believed that he had no courage and wanted to make his way to Oz to obtain the gift of courage. He didn’t realize his courage was always inside of him.  He was a victim of his own negative self-talk.

Negative self-talk is not just in the movies. It resides within many of us.  How many times have you set out to do something, and talked yourself out of it before even getting started?  I call it the “what if syndrome?”

The key is, believing in your dream and yourself, before anyone else does.  How can we expect that we can gain the support of others when we doubt ourselves?  You must be willing to get out of your own way and try.  Perhaps you will make a mistake or two or even three, however if you learn from those mistakes, you will learn and become better through the process.

When we see the success of others, we are seeing them at the point of their success; the question is what did it take to get there and what did they have to endure before their success kicked in.  Their secret was not giving up.  They stayed the course and believed that they could win regardless of the failures along the way.

What are you waiting for?  Just say no to the negative self-talk that is going on in your head and get started.  Give yourself permission to step away from the tangled web of “what if” and take a bold step into your dreams, your destiny is waiting for you to arrive.

Deuteronomy 31:6 offers an assurance on which you can stand, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Trust that the Lord is with you in all things and that the dreams that lay dormant within you are a gift from Him.  Honor that gift and get out of your own way and get moving!

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