The lesson in Story 10 is about limits. More precisely its about the non-existent limits to our growth and our ability to serve others. The story I tell in in the Book is a personal case study on how sharing your gifts and talents breaks through impossible barriers. Its a story of triumph, grace, and people going to bat for you. 

You probably have been in a situation where the chips seemed to be stacked against you. The chips are a metaphor for our shortcomings, self doubt, lack of credentials, lack of experience and the list goes on. I was exactly in that state. I received a job offer and not just any job offer. It was a job helping construction project teams experience an increased quality of life. I was going to the "big leagues" meaning transitioning to working for a ginormous General Contractor and traveling the United States to do my job. But wait theres more...

Not only did I have to face my poor self image I also had some legal constraints that had to be worked through. As in I was on felony probation and had travel restrictions. There were several nights that I considered withdrawing from the opportunity because it seemed like a hopeless effort, there were just too many things that had to go perfectly right. Have you ever been in a situation with a mazillion moving parts and everything had to workout or it would be a total failure? I bet you have and even though it was a bumpy road, you crossed the finish line. The interesting thing is each of us has made it through every single problem so far but we quickly forget all of our triumphs when faced with a new one. We forget that when walking in service to others, nothing can stop us. We forget the immense growth we have earned.

I also forget, and this experience of mine made it all so clear that I havent forgotten since then. My transition into the new job not only required me to combat my head garbage I also had to leave people behind. People that supported and tolerated me. My greatest fear is abandonment, and I felt I was abandoning them. I was committing like the ultimate betrayal. This part was the toughest. But guess what all the emotional turmoil I anticipated, again, only existed in my head. To my surprise all the people I expected to become haters were my biggest supporters. They celebrated my new opportunity. I remember several folks commented that they always wondered why I hadnt moved on sooner. The point here is we fabricate all kinds of gloom and doom, and we really dont know its true, except that by giving up we make it true. 

The secret is staying on the path. If youre "stuck" and need a jolt of inspiration get your hands on a copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be