following dreams and the complications of money

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours. 
-Henry David Thorough

I wanted to take some time to talk about my personal fears in the sport of triathlon and some ways that I have overcome these fears and opened up new horizons by following by dreams.

                I remember crossing the finish line after my first Ironman and feeling an absolute sense of elation. People always talk about it, but quite literally it was the best feeling I had ever experienced in my whole life. From the minute I crossed the line, the question came into head when’s the next one? My love for the sport goes so deep and it truly is a significant part of who I am. The everyday gruel and grind is what attracts me the most about it (insanity…?). Additionally after the Ironman, many people encouraged me to take it a step farther and helped aid me to reach for the stars. I needed an external push to commit to myself. Why was this considering it’s what I love?

                For me, the biggest factor in deciding to become a pro was the concern of making it financially. I would have a head in my voice saying well “yes, try and go pro but when you’re hungry and have no house you will regret it.” I listened to this and it stressed me out to the point where I had told myself that I was just going to do triathlon for fun. Even after the Ironman, when I decided I was going to follow my dreams I still held back a little mentally. I was always thinking about trying to line sponsors up and doubting if I could make a career out of it. This is why I didn’t tell my parents about my new “career decision” for 3 months. Money crept in and become a primary factor of whether I would follow my dreams.

                Over the last month I have had a profound realization. I have decided not to worry to an unnecessary extent about money and how it conflicts my dreams. I am no longer as stressed about sponsors or whether I can make it in the sport. I have surrendered it to the greater good. I know in my head that if I just focus on becoming as good as I can and follow my dreams that truly this is the highest point of living. As Paulo Coelho says in the Alchemist “everything in nature conspires to help one achieve their personal legend.” I believe in myself now and know that when I reach a high enough level the economics of the sport will come. Also, if I fail there’s always a neither option. So what’s the message?

                Money and our dreams are conflicting factors. We often have dreams and don’t follow them because we worry they will set us back financially. While this can be true, it’s a risk that is worth taking. Additionally most of us need support from others around us to get the push to follow our dreams. Surround yourself with people that believe and you can reach your dreams. Money is only a thing of transfer, and there are bigger components of life than monetary wealth.