BELIEVE DARE BECOME

What just happened?

That was the question many of us asked when COVID-19 unleashed its wrath on the world. Within a few months into the year 2020, and with no prior warning, life as we knew it had changed.

Unexpectedly, many of us were forced to make drastic changes to our lives we never saw coming. If anyone had told me at the beginning of 2020 that a virus would bring so much disruption to the world, I would not have believed it.

At the time of this writing, COVID-19 has infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands globally, making social distancing the new norm. Nations most impacted by the disease have implemented lockdowns and shut-ins. Millions have lost their jobs, and many businesses that were forced to close will never be able to reopen. World leaders are scratching their heads and wondering how to stem the tide of a pandemic that has left many desperate, dejected, and despondent in a wake of a crisis that will impact their lives forever.

What do you do when life throws you a curveball?

Based on my experiences in life and interactions with the people I have encountered, I have learned that a person’s belief system and actions, especially in moments of crisis, matter so much that they have the power to influence their destiny significantly. This is an inexorable law of life. If you think about it, your beliefs almost always determine your actions. Your actions then influence who you become.

When you experience setbacks or challenges in life, you can have a fatalistic outlook and believe nothing will ever work right, or you can choose to believe that despite the challenges, something meaningful can come out of them. As French philosopher Voltaire shared, “Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her, but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards to win the game.”

In other words, life is what you make it!

You should certainly not go through life as a worrywart, expecting everything to go wrong. Instead, you must take advantage of every moment by challenging negative belief systems and taking the right actions that will get you to your desired destination in life. Your belief systems can either help you turn tragedies into triumphs or can cause you to remain stuck in them. This is why this book may be one of the most life-impacting books you will ever read.

It will teach you how to:

1. Intentionally challenge any faulty belief systems that govern your life.

2. Carefully think through your actions and choices.

3. Reinforce your body, mind, and spirit against detractors that prevent you from moving forward.

4. Evolve through continuous personal development.

Although seemingly simplistic, the lessons shared in this book possess the power to revolutionize your thinking and transform your life if you apply them. As Og Mandino shared, “No noble thought, plan, desire, or secret will yield any value until they are put into action. Our worth is determined by our deeds, not by our intentions, however noble.”

Do not allow past mistakes or events to keep you down. Instead, use them as stepping stones to help you advance toward your God-given potential. Each chapter features carefully selected life lessons that drive home each topic and concludes with questions that I encourage you to take time to reflect upon.

All the great inventors and scientists asked questions. Isaac Newton asked, “Why does an apple fall from a tree?” and, “Why does the moon not fall into the Earth?” Albert Einstein asked, “What would the universe look like if I rode through it on a beam of light?” By asking these kinds of fundamental questions, they were able to start the process that led to their tremendous breakthroughs.

Likewise, the chapter questions have been crafted with the purpose of taking you places you have not thought of going mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, with the purpose of helping you find answers that will liberate you.

Finally, I also share some of the personal stories from guests who appeared on my inspirational podcast, TIME with Fred. I hope their stories and the lessons shared, inspire you to believe, dare, and become all you were created to be!

With every best wish,

Fred