This, from Christine Kane - Take Action in May, bears repeating just in case you missed it:

Get Committed

When I first began in my songwriting career, I never admitted to anyone that I was a songwriter. I didn’t want them to say, “Oh yea? Prove it!” So, I hedged. I used phrases like “kind of,” “sort of,” “well, not that this could ever happen, but…” Then I found this quote from explorer W.H. Murray –

Until one is committed there is the chance to draw back; always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have dreamed would come his way.

I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.”

I posted this quote on my music room wall. Then, I started to act. I changed my language. I began telling people “I’m a songwriter.” And I started writing everyday no matter what. Slowly, a career grew. And even more important, so did I.

Risk. The very word implies the possibility of failure, of injury, loss, even disaster. It also implies the possibility of gain, of growth, of advancement, or achievement.

When you see or hear the word ‘risk’, does it excite or intimidate you? Does it cause salivation or dry-mouth? Do you look for ways to run toward it or from it?

Risk is the spice of life, I think. Without it, the day is bland and boring. It may be a beautiful day, with much to be grateful and rejoice for, but how many of those quiet beautiful days can you endure before going stir-crazy?

Faith is the quality we have available to enable ourselves to risk, to cause ourselves to take actions that could result in discomfort, failure or loss. Faith that we can truly control and influence the direction of our lives; faith that ultimately our lives will improve when we stretch and move out of our comfort zones.

We risk when we get married; the alternative is to stay single. We risk when we get into a car to travel somewhere. Life is full of risks. How we respond to them determines our direction and our accomplishments.

Faith moves mountains–lack of faith causes a molehill to be a major obstacle.

Years ago, I wrote down a quote that illustrates this perfectly:

“If, despite our gnawing doubts, we can muster faith enough to take a single step on the road to where we’re going, we are well on the way to creative achievement. Every triumph of the human spirit begins with one step taken in faith. The single step is the small handle to great matters.

“No man or woman ever won a worthy triumph without faith to keep on and on, always able to last at least five minutes longer.”

Unfortunately, I didn’t bother to write down where that came from (if anyone knows, please inform me).

The point of all this is simple: without faith, without belief, nothing happens. Nothing is ventured; we stagnate in our own little pools of doubt and uncertainty. Not a pretty picture, eh?

“When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

 This is in my notable quotes (see the top of the page). Isn’t this the truth?

Keywords: resolute, boldly, timid.

Resolute–acting with determination, with the faith that the endeavor will be accomplished. Boldly going where you haven’t gone before because timidity is your normal habit (sorry, Star Trek).

Resolve, resolute, resolution. Very powerful words, yes?