We all have dreams. Dreams of achieving greatness in at least one area of human endeavour. Many of us dream of becoming world-class singers, successful preachers, renowned motivational speakers, great and influential politicians, advocates of social change and philanthropists to name a few, but unfortunately however, most of us are not able to turn our dreams to reality. In fact, more than ninety percent of the total human population die without eventually actualizing their dreams and visions.

A major cause of our inability to actualize our dreams is fear. For instance you are asked to teach a youth class and quickly you respond negatively. You end up asking them to look for someone else because you are much too shy. And you fail to realize that until you take the bull by the horns and begin to challenge your inner fears and feelings of inadequacy, you cannot be of much use to yourself or anyone else for that matter. Ironically, we recount stories of men like Abraham Lincoln. Men who failed more times than they succeeded, but who today are known for the successes that they achieved, and fail to note that the worst that can happen when we try something new is to fail. We are much too afraid of failure.

One reason why we fear failure so much is because we feel the whole world is watching us and without realizing it, we allow the opinions and expectations of others limit us and prevent us from becoming all that we have been created to be. How sad! The truth my friend is, you cannot live your life successfully by following popular opinion and the earlier you realize it, the better.
The greatest recipe from ages past for overcoming your fears is to face them squarely and honestly. For instance, if we continue with our first example, you can tell the person asking you to teach a class how scared you are, and that not withstanding that you will take the class. You are sure that the next time you will do it much better. With that kind of attitude my friend, you are well on your way to becoming all that you have always dreamt about.

Finally, go for it. Work hard at actualizing your dreams. Nothing good comes easy, remember that. Begin to do the things you have been too scared to do and which you know will lead you to finding personal fulfilment. Tackle them one after the other. Like Dr. Myles Munroe will say. Die Empty. Give to your generation all that has been deposited on the inside of you. Do not die with the songs you could have performed, the books you could have written and the difference in politics and education you could have made just to name a few. Instead make your life count and remember yes, you can!