Maureen, Vivien, and Sonia attended the same convent boarding school in the 1920’s. The nuns were as cold as the ice water baths the girls took each evening at school, and the rules were strict. The world they graduated into wasn’t much warmer. It was a time when they were expected to find an appropriate husband, marry him, have children, and be a good wife and mother.
These women wanted more out of life and took unconventional steps to reach their goals. Maureen defied the expectation of wearing only the most modest clothing in her role as Jane in the movie Tarzan, earning her a spot in Hollywood history. Vivien left an unhappy marriage, followed her acting passion, and received multiple awards for her portrayal of Scarlet in Gone With the Wind. Sonia prioritized her career over finding a husband, imbuing herself with the artistic and literary scene, and became a trusted confidant (and platonic spouse) of George Orwell. After his death, Sonia made his books timeless and essential.
Maureen, Vivien, and Sonia all broke the mold and defied expectations to follow their dreams.
We live in a world replete with spoken and unspoken shoulds and musts. For some people, following society's ideals and standards works fine and brings them happiness. For others, following the acceptable and safe path means never pursuing their desired life.
Here are tips for breaking the mold to reach your dreams.
Allow Yourself to Dream: Ask yourself: What are my aspirations? Where do I want to live or visit? What adventures do I want to try? What would I do if I didn’t care about other’s opinions?
Practice Bravery: Doing things differently can be scary. Try acting outside your comfort zone, first with small challenges and then in high-stakes situations.
Be Your Own Friend: Give yourself positive messages, reminding yourself to learn from mistakes, know your strengths and worth, use your voice, and love yourself unconditionally.
Plan, Prepare, and Execute: Research your dreams, strategize ways to make them a reality, and take consistent steps (even small ones at first) to bring you closer to your goals.
Comments