Practical Vs. Possible

??????????????????: (of an idea, plan or method) likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances; feasible

????????????????: able to be done; within the power of capacity of someone or something

Throughout my childhood and young adult life, I've had so many dreams and ideas of what I thought my life could look like. So many dreams and endless potential. As a kid, I wanted to be a doctor. A pediatrician to be exact. Dr. Darling.. who's office was Peter Pan themed (my name is Jon Darling after all) Who wouldn't want to bring their children to me? I would talk about this dream and remember being told that because we were poor, and I wasn't the best in school, that being a doctor wasn't the most practical and I should probably pick something more realistic.

Later in life, when enrolling in college, I had decided that I wanted to study telecommunications with a focus in film production and the conversation with those closest to me, and my school counselors, was very similar.

"Do you really think that's a good major?" "How will you make a living?" "Support your family?" "It just doesn't seem like a really practical career path for you. You aren't even that creative."

It seemed that no matter what I saw as a potential future, someone else saw the flaws, the why nots and the not feasible. The biggest problem, was not their opinion, but the fact that I would listen to these opinions and accept them, believing that I needed to get my head out of the clouds, out of dreamland, and focus on a more practical future. A future that could actually happen for someone like me.

I look back on these times in my life and my heart breaks. Not for me, but for those people who were obviously made to believe that their dreams weren't practical or realistic. They were made to see limitations and reasons why they couldn't make it and convinced to live a life of practicality.

Over the last few years, I have been dedicated to killing the practical in my life, living 100% in the possible. I refuse to dream smaller for the comfort of others. I refuse to allow the limitations being set by the outside world to determine what I can or can't do. I push and challenge myself, shattering my comfort zone, forcing me to come face to face, in the mirror of truth, with every limiting belief I've held onto that has determined my identity.

So what is the truth?

"With man it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible!" (Mark 10:27)

Just last week I was working with one of my coaching clients who has been struggling to find his purpose, and at age 52, what action he can take to begin living his life on his terms. As we began diving into his gifts, talents and skills, seeing where he has shown up at his best, being filled with joy, he shared with me an idea he had about starting a consulting company in the HVAC industry. When I started digging into this idea (which I thought was brilliant), I saw him physically shift in his seat as he began to give me all the reasons why it wouldn't work, and why, even after 30 years in the industry, no one would hire him. He kept giving me reason after reason, some his own, some from others, explaining why it could never work. Instead of living in the truth, that all things are possible with God, he was stuck in the practical. He was looking at the challenges he would face as brick walls, completely shutting him off from the possibility that he could bring this dream to life.

I looked him dead in his eyes, and with all the love I had in my heart, and told him to shut up (I warned him that my love doesn't come without accountability to his words and his actions). I explained that life was hard. Making dreams come true is hard. Ignoring the opinions of others is hard. But when did we run from hard? Why would we ever believe, if anything is possible with God, that this one thing, this one idea, is impossible for us? Hint, Hint.... It's not!!!

I remember watching the 2007-2008 NBA Finals as the Boston Celtics beat the Lakers in game 6. All the emotions, challenges, setbacks and disappointments for the last 12 years of Kevin Garnet's career came out in one incredible, life defining statement for anyone watching.... "Anything is POSSIBLE!!!!!"

I want you to not just believe, but know, that Anything Is Possible!

It's time you stop surviving in the practical and begin thriving in the possible. Stop allowing the limiting, negative beliefs of others and yourself, to keep you from living out the destiny that was designed just for you. It's time to open up your mind and your heart to the truth. It's time you allow your heart, and the desires that have been placed there, to lead and inspire your action, breathing life into your dreams.

It's time to give the world what it needs most.... Your gifts. Your talents. Your skills.

And most importantly... Your love.

"For I know the plans I have for you" - This is the Lord's declaration - "plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11).