So, what is human willpower anyway? The dictionary definition calls it, "The strength of will to carry out one's decisions, wishes, or plans." I call it self-control. It is the foundation from which confidence builds, change happens, and willpower flourishes. It is the solution to most major problems, whether personal or social, largely stemming from a lack of self-control, whether it's compulsive spending, short-sightedness, procrastination, or chronic anxiety. It is our ability to grab hold of the present while better shaping the future. When I took control of those little voices in my head telling me I'm not good enough, I realized they were the only barrier between me and a world of endless opportunity. That I was my own worst enemy. I've never looked back since.
For some, embarking on a life-changing journey built on sheer determination and raw willpower usually begins with a dramatic or major event. For me, it was a simple question. A question so simple, it begs the question of why we question ourselves to begin with? I believe there isn't a single moment in our lives where we can pause and say, "I know all there is to know about myself, including my limits and capabilities," because you never know when you'll shatter your own expectations and where your willpower will take you.
Late one evening in a moment I'll never forget, I became so fed up of feeling trapped in a world whose limits only existed in my mind and so I asked myself, "What can I do with my own two hands to make the biggest, most positive difference in the world?" That utterly simple question literally changed my life. To answer that, I began where most great things begin: passion. All my life I had a great passion for people and nature and although I had always explored both, whether it was learning outdoor survival skills or volunteering to help others, I never truly dedicated myself until now.
I quickly realized that by focusing my passion, motivation and love for both people and nature to preserving the natural environment, I could help protect ecosystems, people and wildlife simultaneously by helping to sustain the complex web of life and interconnected systems that sustain us. With my vision in hand, where was I to begin? I knew nothing about website development, so I began to teach myself and built this website, page by page. I knew little about environmental issues and solutions, so I began to learn. I had never held a DSLR camera before, let alone knew what aperture, shutter speed or ISO were, so I bought one and learned through trial and error. I always thought I was too small to make a difference, so I embarked on a mission to pick up and recycle 1,000,000 pieces of plastic, plant 10,000 trees, paint 500 roofs white and volunteer for 100 organizations to prove I wasn't and that you aren't either; to prove that one person can make a difference, whether small or large. That it all adds up, is positively contagious, and that every single person matters.
Transcending my business background, I spend my free time educating myself on environmental issues and solutions, photographing wild places and wildlife, managing and further developing this website, and pursuing the completion of my four missions. My goal is to do the best I can, with what I've been given to make the greatest difference possible.
The beauty of this little story isn't the splendor and glamor that surrounds it because there is none. It's the simplicity of it all. It's the reminder that internal struggles ultimately shape who we are, who we can be, and who we will be. That at the end of the day, what really matters are the things which make you come alive. The people which fill your life with love and happiness. The passion which drives you towards your dreams. Because the best way to make a positive impact in the world and in the lives of those you care about is to first make that impact upon yourself. From there, anything is possible.