Why start chasing your dreams today?
I waited too long to start pursuing my passions. People tell me all the time how I’m young and I’m pursuing them early (I’m 23) but I constantly feel like I should’ve jumped on earlier. Why? Because I should’ve. I wanted to start a YouTube channel while I was still in high school, but I kept putting it off. I wanted to wait until the perfect time. Turns out the perfect time was whenever I got my nerves together and got started.
I wanted to start a blog almost a year before posting for the first time. When I created my Cherishingsecrets WordPress hosted site, I pursued a passion and loved it. Then, I waited way too long to go self-hosted. It’s amazing how we can talk ourselves into pushing the things we want the most back. My blog is literally my favorite thing that I do and yet it took me the longest to actually start getting this website together. How does that make any sense?
You ever notice how it’s the things you want the most that you put on the back burner? Then, the things you have no real desire to do are placed right on the forefront. Before you know it, years have gone by and you haven’t taken a step closer towards your dreams. Why is that?
What’s holding you back?
The first thing that held me back was fear. I was petrified of really going for the things my heart desired and then failing. I wanted nothing more than to be a blogger and youtuber, but what if I sucked? What if nobody wanted to read these posts? What if I’m not ‘attractive’ enough to be an influencer? Well first of all, let me just debunk that thought process now if that’s something that’s holding you back. I don’t care who you are or what you look like, you can be an influencer. Everyone’s beautiful in their own way and once you love yourself enough to know that you’re good enough, putting yourself out there will not change that. When I first got close to a thousand blog subscribers on my old blog, I received an email from someone I used to go to high school with who told me about how ugly they thought I was. They went on to tell me how I think I’m all of that due to some subscribers and followers on social media. Then ended the email telling me that I don’t fit in that kind of world.
When I first read that email, I laughed. I couldn’t believe someone would take the time to email me something so hateful. I knew who sent the email, but the girl in question didn’t know me and I didn’t know her. We went to school together but we never really spoke and so why she was even concerned with what I got going on was confusing in itself. Then, I realized that something like that was exactly what I had feared. I was so afraid that I wouldn’t be considered good enough or pretty enough or that people would judge me that I was paralyzed from pursuing it for so long. Amazingly enough, when I realized this I laughed even harder. It sounds so intimidating and scary but when it actually happens it’s more funny and sad than anything else. This girl had nothing more to do with her life then try to make me feel bad about mine. It didn’t work. Not even close.
Another thing that held me back and could be holding you back was opinions. When I first started talking to my friends and some family members about starting my blog (at the time, I didn’t even know you could make money from it) I started getting a lot of raised eyebrows. I was talking about being an influencer and how I wanted to impact people through social media and a lot of loved ones and associates were putting things in my head. I told one of my very close friends at the time that I wanted to start a blog and he said that blogs are usually started by people who didn’t have friends or who just want to gossip about famous people. He also said that bloggers spend all of their time online and end up being isolated and alone.
When I learned that I could be a blogger as my full-time job, I was EXCITED. I already loved blogging and couldn’t imagine a better job to have! I did all this researching and armed myself with all of this information on how to properly be an influencer so that I could start making the best preparations and better my content. Then, I told a family member about it and they said “well, the chances of you actually being successful with that are slim. Plus, blogging isn’t really a career. It’s more of a hobby and people who are lazy try to make it a career”. When I first heard that, I stopped blogging for a couple of weeks and even though I had done all that research that said otherwise, I started to doubt my ability to make something out of it.
The thing that I had to realize was that she was trying to look out for me, but that doesn’t mean she’s right. People can have your best interests in mind and still be wrong. Why is that? Because your dreams are for YOU, not for them. So it’s not for them to understand. It’s the same principle as starting your own business. Not everybody is meant to do that and they won’t understand people who strive so hard to. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive for it if it’s what you want.
So, why start your dreams now..?
I know I just said a whole lot and to some it may have sounded like I was rambling, but the point is that I understand. I understand why you feel like you need to have the best equipment or be under the best circumstances to start pursuing your passion. I understand why you may feel like you need to have the approval of those closest to you. I understand you being afraid. I’m STILL afraid and I’m smack in the middle of pursuing my passions
The reason you should start pursuing your passions now is because you’re breathing. Life is short and it goes by in a flash. Before I know it, I’ll be thirty and hopefully have kids and be married and wondering where that wrinkle in my forehead came from. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone and the more you put things off, the less likely you are to succeed. One of my favorite things to remind myself of that my boyfriend said to me is “Do what you can with what you have”. It’s like our motto. You don’t have to have fancy equipment. Use your phone. This entire blog is done on my phone. My YouTube Channel? Phone. My business? Phone. I manage other people’s social media (well, if I might add) from my phone. I write blog articles for websites from my phone. I will be getting more equipment just to make life easier, but I’m not going to put off my dreams over a camera. I’m not going to put off my dreams over a laptop. I’m not going to put off my dreams over some raised eyebrows. I don’t work that way and neither should you.
If your heart is yearning for it now, why wait? Why deprive yourself of what your heart desires any further? What would be the point?
Hoefully, I’ve reached someone with this post. If you think someone you know needs to hear this message, share it with them. Encourage all of those around you to pursue their passions and for for their dreams.
What are you passionate about and what’s stopping you from moving forward? Comment down below and let’s talk about it!
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