Are you ready for the fruition of that big goal or dream?
You say you want it, but how true is that? Is it something you’re just good at
talking and thinking about, or are you busy being
about it, too? Do you know what it really means to be about it? Are you aware
that achieving victories is more about actions than anything else? I love the
saying: “I can show you better than I can tell you.” That idiom is what’s at
the core of all major accomplishments, and what’s required daily when you’re in
The Victory Lab.
First, let me ask you something. Are you actually in the
lab, or are you standing outside, fiddling with the doorknob because you’re too
afraid to enter and make the commitment to stay until you’ve won? Talking about
going in, even psyching yourself up to make that move, is lovely. But how much
more time are you gonna spend doing that? Until you decide to go in, shut the
door, and get to work, that dream will never move from your head and heart into
reality. If you want the prize, then you have to get in the game; and the game
doesn’t truly begin until you embrace—and temporarily move into—the lab.
If you’re one who visits The Victory Lab often and emerges
triumphant, then you already know how it works in there, and this post isn’t
for you. Right now, I’m talking to everyone who’s never been in it, or maybe
they stuck a toe in on occasion but got scared and ran away. If that’s you,
then it’s time for your crash course in how to take command of the lab once and
for all, so you can start living the life of a champ instead of watching other
people be the winners all the time, and wondering how they did it.
The following list will give you a good idea of what you’ll
need, what to expect from, and how to function in, the lab:
· Faith.
If you already have it, then it’s time to
step it up; go harder with it; you’re gonna need its foundation to be
solid. If
you don’t have it, then I’ll be honest: things are gonna be bleak as
hell in
there. To be even more frank, you probably won’t last long. The lab is
no place
for the weak in faith. And let me clarify that I’m not talking about any
specific type of faith—whatever your religious or philosophical belief
is, is
great, as long as it works for you and you believe in it. You'll need it
to manifest and continually strengthen the discipline and diligence
necessary to succeed in the lab. Get ready to lean on
it harder than you ever have.
· Clarity and Desire. You have to be super sure about what
you’re pursuing and why, and your desire to get it has to be so deep that you're willing to jump as far into the trenches as possible to make it happen. Going into the lab half-cocked and confused is not
advised. Once you’re in, you need to be ready to focus on making specific and
well-executed moves, not trying to figure out what you want. Being uncertain
about your strength of passion and desire for your goal when you enter the lab is like
walking onto a battlefield unarmed. And you know how that ends. Impenetrable
passion is your mandated armor. Make sure you have it strapped on tight.
· Patience. This may prove to be the biggest
challenge. Depending on what you’re after, you may be in there a while. A long
while. Possibly years. This is also why clarity is important. Unknown
timelines, and even those with designated endings in the not-so-near future,
can be daunting when you’re crystal clear about your mission. If you lack
passion or clarity about why you’re in the lab, then the “when” of it all can
be that much more difficult to deal with.
· Discernment.
The Victory Lab is a sacred place,
where only certain people should be allowed to visit while you’re in
there. You
have to be extremely careful of who you let in to your energy realm when
you’re
in lab mode. Being in the lab is tantamount to performing spiritual
surgery—only other surgeons who’ve performed it should be in the room
with you.
This means that if you run with a crowd of people who aren't reaching
for the stars, so to speak, or who’ve tried and given up before they got
to the
top, then you may need to limit your conversations with them. They won’t
understand your commitment to the journey or be able to relate to what
you’re
doing and why. Lab time truly calls for being around like-minded people
as much as possible. I also don't advise talking to them about your
lab work (i.e. struggles, fears, dilemmas) when you peek your head out
for some air and socializing. Though they
may care about you and honestly want you to succeed, the truth is that
people
who’ve never had the courage to tackle the lab are not usually the best
people
to confide in or look to for advice when things get rough. I didn't say
they never are; sometimes people can uplift you even if they don't fully get your path. But generally, if you feel like you
need encouragement or an ear to bend, then it’s best to seek out other lab experts,
ones who’ve made it across the finish line and can possibly mentor you. I should briefly
mention that you may also need to be cautious when interacting with people who
have endured the lab in a different area than you. For example, your friend did
his or her lab work in the home-buying arena, but you’re trying to accomplish
an off-brand career goal. Your friend may know all about buying property now,
but hasn’t the slightest clue about how to navigate these strange waters you’re
in. Think of it like an oral surgeon trying to assist and understand the
process of a heart surgeon. Completely different types of surgeons who were
mentored by people who knew the ins and outs of their field. I’m not saying cut
off all your friends, family, and associates just because they’re not lab savvy
or your type of lab savvy; I’m saying
choose your conversations with them wisely.
· Research. Whatever you’re pursuing, you would be
wise to learn as much about it as you can while you do so. Unless you’re in
school to achieve it, you probably don’t know a whole lot about it. Part of
your lab work is making sure you know what to do with your goal once you get
it. Your own brand of homeschooling on the subject should always be in progress
if you’re not attending school. If you’re not even compelled to learn about
your goal beforehand, then that says a lot about your level of passion for it.
· Indifference. Basically, mind your own business.
If you’re wasting time and energy focusing on the who, what, where, when, why,
and how of other people’s lives; gossiping, getting caught up in social media
comment threads, Googling the latest juicy deets, jumping on the phone to spew
the info and hoping to get more, and having visceral responses to these
people’s situations and actions, then you’re most certainly not in the head
space to pursue a dream. I know sometimes it’s easy to get distracted by other
people’s lives; I’ve done it. But as soon as I realize I’m focused on something
that has nothing to do with my goal, I shut it down and get my life together.
· Silence. I can’t stress enough the fact that you
need an abundance of quiet time when you’re in the lab. By quiet time, I mean total silence … just you and your
thoughts and feelings. You need time each day to check in with yourself about
how things are going, and to tap into your spirit for wisdom, courage, and
answers to questions that only you can answer about your journey. None of that
can happen with distractions like TV, music, Internet, phone calls (including
texting), and in-person conversations in the mix. Give yourself the gift of
complete silence so you can stay properly connected to your dream and remain
clear about how to move through the process to get to the other side.
· Bounce-Back.
All kinds of random, ridiculous, serious,
scary, confusing, disheartening obstacles will appear while you’re in
the lab
that can potentially knock you off track to the point where you consider
giving
up on your goal—or at least slowing your pursuit down considerably—if
you're not careful. When they
appear, don't use them as excuses to quit but instead as fuel to ground
yourself even more firmly on your path. You wouldn’t let people just
walk up and punch you in the face
without some kind of retaliation, would you? I didn’t think so. Don’t
let
obstacles have free reign in your life. Strike back with refusal to be
defeated, and renewed
determination to win.
The Victory Lab (and your subsequent success) awaits all of
you. Go in. Brave it. Surround yourself with others who are in it or have
conquered it, and form an alliance. Stay in until you emerge a champion. The
euphoria you’ll feel when you finally share your testimony, and inspire others
because of it, will be worth every minute of your time there.
For information about my Life Challenge Consulting, please visit www.honorthespirit.com.
