Anyone will tell you that it’s easy to mouth the words, “Trust God, find your life purpose, identify your dream and muster the courage to work at it until it comes true.” But we know, only too well, that in most cases it takes a major leap of faith to do these and even simpler things. So, let’s talk about what’s involved in taking a leap of faith and more importantly, how to take it this year.

We have dreams. And every now and then, we conjure up visions of those dreams coming true and how our lives will play out once those dreams become reality. Yet, as passionate as we feel when in the throes of those visualizations, when the time comes to actually start putting plans into action, we hesitate. We approach the door with apprehension and as our fingers close on the doorknob fear envelopes our hearts and we freeze. Suddenly taking that step seems foolish. Our enthusiasm is replaced by doubts and questions that call for a negative and discouraging response. What if I fail? I could become a laughingstock. What if I end up in financial ruin? These are all very real fears, and deserve to be recognized and dealt with.

Here is how to avoid buckling under the weight of all of this negativity, and prime yourself to take a leap of faith this year.

Take Stock

Taking stock of our lives should be a regular exercise. No matter how we hate to admit it, a new year calls for us to think of and try new things. Naturally, you will assess and strengthen an old foundation or set a new one for a new structure. In the same way you will want to ensure that your lifestyle can bear the weight of a new adventure and its accompanying challenges.

Take stock of your life, as it is now, today. Don’t begin with a plan to change everything. Note your personal characteristics, skills and habits that can be drafted into active duty.

Make a Decision

Based on the pros and cons of pursuing the path you are considering, you may decide not to take the risk at this time. And there is nothing wrong with that. You have every right to stay where you are, if you have valid reasons, whatever they may be, that support our decision. You are not a coward. You are making a rational decision based on what you need at this point in your life. But if after a careful analysis your fears seem groundless or the alternative present circumstances seem too unpleasant, you should turn that knob and open the door.

Follow God’s Lead

Sometimes, the decision is made for us, forcing us to throw ourselves on the mercy of God and take the leap of faith. We may suddenly lose our jobs, relationships, or suffer illnesses or accidents. We may suddenly find ourselves adrift on the sea of uncertainty, and be forced to take steps toward our goals purely out of necessity.

On December 30th, I believe that God orchestrated circumstances to force me to take stock of myself and my writing. In the last half of 2007 I had allowed other situations in my life to cloud my view of what was truly important to me and what was necessary to keep my passion alive. Consequently, my approach to writing had lost its shine, so to speak. However, despite knowing and wanting the opposite, I stalled on taking steps to rid myself of my self-destructive procrastination, comfort zone complacency and obsessive compulsive tendencies that interfered with my desire to stretch myself and my writing.

In a snap decision, without verifying that the files I had been saving elsewhere were intact, I gave the go ahead to clean up my computer. When I attempted to transfer my files they were nowhere to be found. All my work, all my research, all my writing had vanished. I lost everything.

Losing my writing life, as it were, was like God saying, “Enough talk; it’s time for action. It is time to free yourself from the crutches of your past achievements and launch forward.” I needed that. Rebuilding my writing library is no easy task. But you know something, when I realized what had happened, I took a quick glance of the work involved. Then I turned my eyes to God who alone can equip me for the task ahead.

Whatever ideas, dreams, plans or goals may dance in your head this year, don’t discard them at the first tinge of fear. Have faith in God to guide, equip and uphold you as you take stock and make decisions about making or not making changes.

Is there a leap of faith you’ve wanted to take? How long have you been standing at the door, shaking hands and sweating palms on the knob? Has the abyss of the unknown filled you with fear? No one can make the choice for you. You are the one to take a hard look at your life, decide what you want, trust God for strength, for wings and for success. Then leap. Anyone can take a leap of certainty. It takes much more courage to take a leap of faith. Go ahead, you take yours and I’ll take mine.