by Talina Norris

Created on: May 28, 2008   Last Updated: October 08, 2008

I remember being a kid and hearing the whole "you can do anything you set your mind to" spiel. There were songs about it, Disney movies on the concept and of course your parents and teachers would preach it over and over, so is it true? Can you REALLY do anything you set your mind to and do those beliefs actually determine who or what we will become?

As adults we become jaded and we begin to think that we were only told those things to keep us hopeful and hard working. We gradually stop believing in ourselves and our dreams. Reality takes hold of our lives and we feel unhappy, are we off track? Do our beliefs really have the power to shape who and what we will become? Can being jaded or pessimistic really hold us back?

I remember being a a child, standing in front of the TV watching a Maddona music video. I was captivated and inspired. I thought to myself "I want to do that when I grow up"! As I got older I thought this meant I wanted to be a famous singer so I sang in choir but I was also drawn to all things performance.

I did beauty pageants as a teen, acted in plays, joined the marching band as a colorguard member, I preformed my little heart out!

As an adult I have stopped singing (except for on car rides) and I am not a famous singer. If believing in something and wanting it bad enough is the key why am I not a famous singer? Did I just not want it bad enough? Where did I go wrong in fulfilling my dream?

My theory is that we can achieve greatness when we set our minds to it. Notice how it didn't say we can achieve anything we set our mind to? You see, sometimes the thing we have our mind set on is not really what we want or it is not what will best fulfill us. The universe (or insert what/ who you believe in here) knows this even when we don't.

I am fulfilled in my job despite not ending up a famous singer, do you think my idea of what I wanted was skewed as a kid? I sure do!

Today I am a dance teacher/ choreographer who loves seeing my students achieve and grow. Perhaps I wanted to inspire others through performance and was just too young to know that. Isn't that exactly what the Maddona video did for me?

I absolutely believe that anyone can achieve greatness when they are committed. Just remember that your particular idea of greatness may not be exactly what is meant to be! Keep pursuing those dreams and believe that you will succeed!

Right now I am in the midst of change but I'll be okay because I am committed to making greatness happen, even when I don't know what that greatness will be! I also know that things don't always work out the way you think they should, they work out they way they are meant to be. I know it is going to be amazing, whatever it is because I believe, that is the key!

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