{"id":8524,"date":"2014-08-18T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-08-18T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/creator\/?p=8524"},"modified":"2020-03-30T19:00:16","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T23:00:16","slug":"afraid-to-pursue-your-dreams-this-is-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/afraid-to-pursue-your-dreams-this-is-why","title":{"rendered":"Afraid to pursue your dreams? Here’s why"},"content":{"rendered":"

Stephanie Staidle, the right brained entrepreneur, tells us why our brains are designed to make us think we can\u2019t have what we want.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sure, you\u2019ve heard the success stories. You might read books or even see it on your Facebook feed \u2014 someone who has made a successful living doing what they love. They have happiness and ease. This may be followed by feelings of envy and even some sadness that you can\u2019t do the same. Perhaps that person had the resources you don\u2019t have or were lucky to have the stars align. Whatever the reason, you may be absolutely sure that you can not pursue your dreams and live your passions.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to let you in on a scientific fact that will completely disprove this thought:\u00a0your brain is designed to have you think you can\u2019t have what you want.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your biological machinery is designed to keep you exactly where you are: unfulfilled, bored, and stuck in the same routine. There is nothing wrong with where you are according to your brain because its sole purpose is to have you\u00a0survive<\/em>– to literally keep you alive. However, the brain\u2019s definition of safety is not merely physical safety, but emotional and mental safety. In simpler terms, safety means keeping you in your comfort zone.<\/p>\n

For many people, the comfort zone is defined early in childhood. We are taught from our family, our society, and our education systems on how to ensure a good future in which you will have the security of a paycheck and stability. You know the drill:\u00a0 get a college degree and find a company with good benefits that will provide you with steady income.<\/p>\n

There is nothing wrong with this lifestyle. Especially if you found this stability doing something you love. But if you\u2019re reading this article, let\u2019s assume that isn\u2019t you. Let\u2019s also assume you have a lot of reasons why you can\u2019t have it all and pursue your passions.<\/p>\n

So who made up those reasons? More importantly, are they even real reasons?<\/p>\n

Your brain pumps out a lot of thoughts on a daily basis. Have you ever noticed that often its default mode is one of negativity, instead of positivity?\u00a0 It will give you all the reasons why you can’t do something instead of all the reasons that maybe you can.<\/p>\n

Your brain, in wanting to keep you safe from the potential emotional and mental harm that could come from taking a risk, will give you these disempowering thoughts that most of us believe as the truth. And then you won\u2019t take any action, which leaves you stuck.<\/p>\n

These successful people that you may envy are not different from you. They have merely learned how to view themselves and the world in a completely different way. They have trained themselves to view their thoughts as a creation of a biological machine that they can consciously choose to listen to or not.<\/p>\n

Instead of saying \u2018why not\u2019 they ask \u2018why yes?\u2019 They look for creative solutions instead of listening to all the reasons their circumstances limit them. And they take action, consistently.<\/p>\n

Have a dream? You now have a choice too: you can continue to listen to those negative thoughts that aren\u2019t real or learn to take on a new perspective that gives you power in your life. You can stay where you are or take a new action. Choose.<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: This story originally appeared in Live In The Grey<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stephanie Staidle, the right brained entrepreneur, tells us why our brains are designed to make us think we can\u2019t have what we want. Sure, you\u2019ve heard the success stories. You might read books or even see it on your Facebook feed \u2014 someone who has made a successful living doing what they love. They have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1258,"featured_media":8739,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43902],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAfraid to pursue your dreams? 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