Opportunities
and events rarely just drop into our laps. An immediate, successful outcome is
not guaranteed. Usually we must put in a
lot of work and have a lot of motivation to reach a goal or milestone.
Days, weeks, months and even years can pass without making any obvious progress
toward our goal. During that time it is easy to become frustrated and even
disillusioned about when/whether/if we will ever get our “break.” Sometimes
life even steps in and replaces the original goal and desired outcome with
something better than you could have ever dreamed of.
Recently, my dad
commented (again) how excellent it was that actor Benedict Cumberbatch has enjoyed
such great success in the film industry. However, he has certainly been paying
his dues as an actor for many years—mostly on stage in Britain and some roles
in television movies and series in Britain and in America. Receiving an Oscar
nod for his portrayal of Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, well, that’s
quite an endorsement for the Sherlock star’s acting chops, is it not? Of course, Mr.
Cumberbatch’s story is not one of overnight success, at all. Do you remember
his very minor role as a cavalry officer in Steven Spielberg’s (2011) film, War Horse? As he landed roles in bigger
projects, it just seemed like he suddenly popped out of the woodwork. He had
the lead role in the film about Julian Assange and a role in August: Osage County, a major film
starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. He even voiced the dragon in a recent Lord of the Rings movie.
Meanwhile,
actress Julianne Moore
has been acting in and headlining films for approximately twenty-five years.
She has received five Academy Award nominations, including her current nod for Still
Alice. It seems likely that
she will finally win a long-overdue Oscar this year, so say Hollywood pundits,
but who knows? Meanwhile, Ms. Moore carries on promoting the movie and working and
perfecting her craft.
And, what about
the unexpected play that New England Patriot cornerback Malcolm
Butler made during the Super Bowl
XLIX? Just when it looked like Seattle Seahawk’s wide receiver, Ricardo
Lockette, was about to catch the touchdown-winning pass in the end zone in
the last few minutes of the game, Butler jumped up and grabbed the ball instead.
Suddenly, the comfortable 10-point—and then manageable three-point—lead that
the Seahawks had been enjoying through most of the second half of the game was
reduced to a four-point deficit from which Seattle would not be able to
overcome. Throughout the game, both teams had played hard and made strategic
mistakes that could have changed the outcome, but there was no denying that the
Patriots constantly continued working and fighting for those winning points. Their
unbeatable lead may not have happened as early in the game as New England would
have liked, but their never-surrender attitude and determination to win
ultimately paid off in the end.
One of the
biggest challenges many of us face is being patient with ourselves as we strive
to accomplish something. As you pursue that promotion at work are you
compromising your health by getting little or no sleep and poor nutrition? The
physical consequences of these behaviors could affect your perception, mood and
ability to focus or problem-solve, which could inadvertently jeopardize your
chances of being promoted. Are you so focused on completing a project that you
neglect relationships with or responsibility to family or friends? Are you so
focused on attracting that perfect partner that you pay no attention to your
professional goals and other social bonds? Where and how will your goal, once
it is accomplished, fit and balance with other important areas of your life?
Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in
Southern California. She graduated with honors from the
Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about
Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2015
