Aspiration
During my sentencing hearing, I remember Judge Tanner telling me that I'd be an old man before I got out of prison. He sentenced me to 45-years. Life could have seemed bleak. Yet I returned to my solitary cell with a new vision. Leaders had taught me to focus on what I could control. Through reflection and aspiration, I found a path to purpose.
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I could build a better attitude by aspiring to what I wanted to become. Instead of dwelling on despair, I envisioned a better life—a life of contribution, freedom, and dignity. Socrates taught me how to ask better questions, and from those questions, I developed strategies. They led to tactics and growth. Aspire to something bigger than your life.
Focus on Vision
A clear vision drives change. I imagined the man I wanted to become—confident, purposeful, and judged by the way I responded to the problems that I created. The strategy helped me to see and appreciate the opportunities I could work toward. This guiding aspiration shaped my daily decisions. Vision provides direction, even in adversity.
Align Goals with Aspiration
To achieve your vision, set measurable goals. Leaders taught me how every action, from reading books to connecting with mentors, aligned with my aspiration of how I'd return to society with dignity. Aspirations of the life I intended to lead kept me accountable and motivated. They reinforced progress, giving me hope even during the longest days.
Leverage Opportunity
The aspiration we set empower us, but only if we pair them with actions. An officer brought me books on leaders, and the lessons in those books opened my mind to new possibilities. I seized them and used them to grow. Every resource or interaction becomes a stepping stone toward realizing the success we're striving to build.
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Clarify Your Ideal Life
What does success look like to you? While in my darkest moments at the start of my prison term, I aspired to leave prison with new opportunities. I would not realize that aspiration for decades. Yet by visualizing the life I intended to live, I gained clarity on what I must do. You can’t reach your destination if you don’t know where you’re headed.
Break Down Your Journey
Setting aspirations can overwhelm us if we're in a crisis, or living through adversity. To break free from debilitating thoughts, look to the future you intend to build. That vision, or aspiration, helps you see the small steps you can take today. They lead to success. Small wins lead to big changes in our life. Break down your journey to success.
Transform Adversity into Growth
Even in the darkest moments, we can create opportunities. We must act, and always act in ways that will lead us closer to the life we aspire to live. Those actions bring us light, energy, clarity on what we must do next. Leaders taught me this lesson while I was locked in solitude. Books became my teachers. Transform your life with aspirations.
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