***You want Something, Go Get it

‘Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me’. How many times has a well meaning parent tried to instruct a child with that little bit of advice? Nothing could be further from the truth. Words have power. Power that can be helpful or destructive. Words from a person you love and respect can shape your whole life.

In the above clip, Chris Gardner, hardworking and homeless dad catches himself in the moment where his words could have wrecked his young son’s dreams in this powerful clip from The Pursuit of Happyness. Chris tells his son; “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. Not even me. Alright? You gotta dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’ do it. You want something, go get it, Period.”
Let’s look at this advice under as closer lens:

• Other people don’t limit you, you do. So don’t give them the power to limit you even if they are the people closest to you and who you love and respect the most. And don’t limit yourself.

• Your dreams need protection. No one can protect your dream but you. Protect it by keeping it alive and not letting someone squish it like a bug.

• Other people use their own limitations as filters and apply them to you. It’s not about what other people think you can do, it’s about what you think you can do.

• To go and get something implies hard work and perseverance. If a dream stays in your head it’s a wish, not a dream. Going and getting are action verbs.

Ultimately, you can only blame a naysayer in your life for so long. Then you have to take Chris’ advice and if you want something, go get it. PERIOD.