Who’s Stopping You?

“The question isn’t who’s going to let you; it’s who’s going to stop you.” ~Ayn Rand

Wow. Take a minute and think about that. What could you do if you understood and accepted that you are unstoppable? How much more would you get accomplished in your life? A lot more I bet.

The message of this quote resonates with people from all walks of life.

The meaning behind the quote

This quote encourages you to take control of your own life and pursue your goals and dreams, rather than waiting for permission or approval from others. When my son, T. J. was diagnosed with autism, a lot of my focus was on him and his needs.

But, at one point I realized that I had my own hopes and dreams. Why did I need to lay those down only because he was differently abled? One of my goals was to get my degree. I wouldn’t be able to physically attend classes, so I arranged to take them online. Sometimes you have to pivot but you don’t have to give up completely.

The only person standing in your way is you. You have the power to overcome any obstacle or challenge that comes your way.

How to apply the quote to your own life

Identify your goals. Start with one — and take action to achieve it. Pay no attention to what others say. Well-meaning friends and family told me I shouldn’t take classes online. I had a child with special needs, and he needed my undivided attention. Had I listened to well-meaning friends and family, I would not have gotten my first degree.

Kick fear and self-doubt to the curb. Don’t let them hold you back from pursuing what you truly want. Just the thought of having a child with a special need that I knew nothing about was scary enough, but the thought of attending classes and doing schoolwork was daunting. Instead of letting fear and doubt stop me, I set my goal and walked into it with my head held high and my knees knocking.

You’re in control. You have control of your own life. You may need to ask for help along the way. I reached out to my support system on weekends so I could write my papers. I can’t tell you the number of Saturday mornings I parked my feet under my mother’s kitchen table from sun up to sun down in order to write a paper or do homework. Do what you need to do to shape your own future.

Takeaway

This quote is a powerful reminder that you are the master of your own fate and that you have the potential to achieve great things if you are willing to take action and persevere no matter what life throws your way. Yes, if life hands you a special needs child, you’ll have to make some course corrections, but your dreams are still there and still achievable. While you’re creating the life you want for your child, go ahead and create the life you want for yourself too.