Dear friend and Big League Hall of Famer Willie Stargell experienced the defining moment of his life at nineteen. He was accosted by a shotgun-baring bigot who threatened to blow Willie’s brains out if he played in the game that night. Willie played anyway and for the first time became fully committed to living his dream, opening his path to success.

My friend Henry Aaron was threatened daily for over three years as he neared breaking the great Babe Ruth’s career home run record. In response, Henry’s anger left him unable to quit and drove him to eventually break Babe’s record.

Dick Gregory, world famous comedian and one of Martin Luther King’s right hand men, asked me preceding an interview with him whether I was willing to die for it. Gregory made very clear his life could be stricken down at any moment and I could potentially be victim to a stray bullet. I conducted the interview despite Gregory’s sincere warning and went onto live my dream.

Like anyone who has achieved divine personal success in their life, these men were willing to die for living their heartfelt Spirit-led dreams.

Now “dying” doesn’t always translate to actual physical death. Oftentimes, it can mean letting go of a limiting habit or self-destructive tendency that prevents your own success. What are you willing to let go of in order to live your dream?

This Week’s Writing Exercise

Allow yourself at least 30 minutes to enter into your Divine Author Within state and respond to the following questions:

What parts of me (thoughts, feelings or habits) do I need to allow to pass?

How will the passing of these aspects directly benefit the living of my dream?

Here’s to the real living of your dream…

Until next week,

– Tom