Follow Your Aspirations. Not Someone Else's.

Recently, I was talking to a friend who is a Millennial and he described why Millennials feel they’re smarter than the adults attempting to advise them and he made some very valid points.

“You HAVE to go to college to have a good future,” was just one of the pieces of advice he and his peers keep hearing even as reports are rampant with college graduates facing huge debt and no career to speak of due to changes in the job market.

The truth is, college has its place, but it as far from a cure-all. The job market place is now global, so competition is far more fierce than it was for prior generations. It doesn’t end there, however.

A.I., machine learning, and neurolinguistic programming is reshaping the job scape at an exponential pace. The ability to learn quickly, adapt, and manage our emotions are the minimum skill set whether you have an advanced degree or not.

I say this because there’s a good chance that you’ve spent years hearing advice that no longer applies to the challenges of today. Now that you’re in a position to strike out on your own, you have the opportunity to follow your own aspirations for a better life. Good for you! Following your aspirations can happen when you stop listening to everyone else and seek to live according to your values. 

I get it. It can be hard to do, especially when you have well-meaning loved ones sharing their advice with you. At some point, you have to stretch yourself and live your life according to your terms. This can cause friction and hurt feelings, but it is vital to your personal success. 

4 Suggestions for Following Your Aspirations

When it comes to living life your way, you will probably have others questioning your motives. Often, it is because they don't want you to hurt yourself or make the same perceived mistakes’ your loved one made. Sometimes, it is out of jealousy. Speaking from experience, the best thing you can do for all concerned is stop worrying about others and start living for yourself in all cases. Here are four suggestions to get you started in following your aspirations:

1. Listen to Others and Then Do Your Own Thing: Some people will be bent on making sure you don't reach your dreams. Others will have genuine yet short-sighted concerns. It's okay to listen to what they have to say, extrapolate anything that may be helpful, and then continue to pursue your goals and aspirations.
2. Don't Be Afraid to Fail in Front of Others: As you work through your aspirations, you will get pushback from both those who are afraid you’ll get hurt, and those who don't want to see you succeed. When you have the occasional failure, both are likely to point it out. Either way, you are still brave. Remember, you stepped out and tried something. A majority of the pushback will come from those who never made it past their comfort zone. 
3. Set Your Own Limits: Both those who mean you ill and well, are going to try and impose their self-limiting beliefs on you. Don't let them. Take control and avoid letting them try to stop you. You have potential you haven’t tapped yet. That’s part of being human, and you can set the bar as high (or as low) as you want.
4. Find Others Who WILL Support You: It might take a little time, but seek out support from positive people who believe you can achieve your aspirations. They will cheer you on and pick you up when things go wrong without judgment. That is incredibly valuable when you are pursuing your hopes and aspirations.

Follow your aspirations despite what others may say. Develop a team of supporters who won't try to make their dreams yours. Before you know it, you will be well on your way down the road to the life you have always dreamed of.