Pascall-Barnier-Post
This picture was created by Pascal Barnier and gave me a real boost when I received it.

Whilst I have been at home I have had plenty of time to read many of the blogs that I enjoy and catch up with what everybody is up to. It was great as it gave me a great source of inspiration and helped me to focus on next year and what I would like to achieve from my studies.

It has been suggested to me several times to write down my ambitions and aspirations to help me to refine my goals, but to me it is a little more than just drawing up of a list it is about belief in yourself as this is what is essential if you are ever going to achieve what you set down for yourself.

If you don’t believe you can actually achieve your dreams you’ll always be hoping rather than achieving and succeeding.

I have read that each of our lives are a series of stairs and landings. Sometimes we progress quickly through to the heights. But there are times for each of us where we seem to get stuck on a landing and can’t move on. We could stay there on the landing, satisfied with our achievements but we have to realise that this still means that we must sustain the hard work it has taken to get there.

It isn’t for us to look down and see the people below us on the stairs to comfort us when we stop. But if we choose to look up and decide to go on, we will need belief in our abilities and take the advice of others to make each step more manageable.

We often face choices as we progress, some more difficult than others. If you have belief in yourself you can make things happen and this can often help and influence others to reach for their own dreams.

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Each fabulous diamond starts out in the rough and through the skill and artistry of the diamond cutter and the jeweller it becomes something special that glistens and sparkles in the light.  During my studies at the RCS I have come across lots of great teachers, peers, friends and people who have inspired me, these people like the diamond cutters have helped me to remove some of my rougher edges and help me to start to sparkle.

Cut-Diamond

I have so far to go and I believe that I have it within me to become a magnificent gem. Often British people don’t like you to talk like this because it’s seen as big headed and very of self centred, but I’ve also mixed with lots of American friends this year and they talk positively and openly about their goals and this has empowered me to say what I believe.

Freddy Mercury, from Queen is quoted as saying : “I always knew I was a star and now, the rest of the world seems to agree with me.” I have a tee shirt with this on 🙂

FreddieMercury

I also came across this quote from Howard Schultz, Starbucks CEO “Risk more than others think is safe. Expect more than others think is possible”

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I know that achieving my dreams will be hard work but I am looking forward to the challenge 🙂 as we go in to a new and hopefully an exciting year.

102 thoughts on “Believe in yourself”

  3. What a truly inspirational piece of writing. I’m going to remember this.

    I think in Britain, we are put down a lot because we are told we are never really good enough. I truly wish you the success your hard work and dedication deserves.

    Hopefully 2014 will be an excellent year for you.

    Merry Christmas to you

    Reply

  5. I’ve already said, you’re a star and you become a constellation. 😉

    Thank you my great friend to all that light that gives you around you.

    All the best for you

    A fabulous christmas

    Reply

    1. Hi Lukas did you catch my performance of Rusalka with the Milnrow Brass Band? I was a bit apprehensive because it was the first time I’d sung with a brass band and we only had one run through with them which was nerve wracking. I had to really concentrate where usually I can lose myself in the performance with the piano, so I only feel that I can see improvements, they were a fabulous band though and had my back at every turn with a great conductor. I’d love to work with them again with more practise time 🙂
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      The post is called A Touch of Brass on My Performances (posts)

      Reply

      1. Hello:). I was so busy last couple of days.. Finnally my christmas started with todays midnight mass. I ve heared Your performance while ago, its almost like the piece from Mrs. Beňačková. You have simply driven that to perfection. I also liked the emotions, You were probably deeply studying background and have fully understanding of dramatical page. I was unable to focus on pronunciation since I am tired, but if You need it, i ll do that in future.

        Oh, and merry christmas!

        WIth respect,
        Lukáš

      2. Thank you Lukas, only if you have any spare time 😉 I respect your opinion. You have a fabulous time.
        I’m using the song in my exams mid-January I hope if it is satisfactory for my teacher.
        Seasons greetings
        Charlotte

    1. Hi Philip, I’ve had opportunities to move off course along the way. But I’ve always stood firm in my desire to follow this path even when I realised how difficult it could be. ;). Merry Christmas to you.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  12. Charlotte, This is Ann Harrison and I want to tell you what a blessing you are to me. Through your post, I have gotten the answer to my climbing dreams. By that I mean, that I now understand why I can’t climb down, I have to keep going up. God bless you Charlotte, and I hope you have a merry and blessed Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. Love and prayers, Ann check out my blog at http://www.wwannwrites.wordpress.com

    Reply

  14. Wow, Charlotte! What an inspirational post you wrote. I believe you are well on your way to shine as bright as a diamond, because you’ve got belief, drive, ambition, optimism, and talent!! 🙂 You’ve inspired me to keep on working towards my own dreams and not give up no matter how risky others think it may be, so thank you!! Have a beautiful Christmas with your family! ^^ xo

    Reply

    1. Hi Violet, it’s brilliant for a Mum and Dad having us all home together this Christmas, I hope that I have inspired you to success and that you have a great 2014.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  15. That’s something I maybe needed to hear. Thank you. Every time I make a step toward a goal, I second guess myself. And not in a good way. Have a wonderful day!

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  17. Your inner lights shine through your multiple facets brilliantly.
    Me? I’m just an old chunk of coal ….

    “…I’m just an old chunk of coal
    But I’m gonna be a diamond some day

    I’m gonna grow and glow ’til I’m so blue, pure perfect
    I’m gonna put a smile on everybody’s face

    But I’m gonna kneel and pray everyday
    Lest I should become vain along the way

    I’m just an old chunk of coal, now Lord
    But I’m gonna be a diamond some day” written by Billy Joe Shaver

    Read more: Johnny Cash – Old Chunk Of Coal Lyrics
    http://www.metrolyrics.com/old-chunk-of-coal-lyrics-johnny-cash.html

    Reply

      1. Thank you, yeah it’s my first ever cooking competition I attend. You’re right I must move on, maybe on the second time it’s gonna be epic. BTW Merry Christmas Miss Charlotte and I will be blogging a xmas recipe on 25. Have a blessed Christmas day ^_^

      2. Thank you, Yeah it’s my first ever cooking competition I join, you’re right I must move on and work hard maybe on the second time it’s gonna be epic BTW Miss Charlotte Merry Christmas and I will be blogging a special Christmas recipe hope you like it. Have a blessed Christmas day and Enjoy ^_^

  20. … and THAT is why you are so successful in everything you do.

    I am not a singing starlet. I am not a rich business man. Far from it. BUT, I generally succeed in whatever I do in life. Why? Coz I believe in me. I’m no angel, certainly not that talented or even very intelligent, but belief is a powerful thing my friend.

    Nice post Missy H 😀

    Reply

    1. I’m glad you liked the post Uncle Spice. Your blogs one of my favourites 😉 I remember reading about your pomegranates and I was wondering if I remembered right that they were good for sore throats? Can you send me the link to your post I was thinking about mixing pomegranate juice with honey in the future.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  21. another gorgeous post, once again, Charlotte.
    Have an awesome xmas and remember to take care of you, eh? No more gettin’ sick and wrecking that awesome voice.
    Love from NZ,
    Lizzi

    Reply

    1. Hi Lizzi, my Mums with you 😉 we read your post together and I’ll be going back to Glasgow with a list of healthy quick to cook recipes with lots of green vegetables (she’s decided I don’t eat enough of them), more planning, including more rest and going to see the GP earlier than I did instead of trying to work through.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  25. Thank you for this inspirational piece of writing! 🙂 I agree with you completely and I’ll try to remember your words when I wander astray and forget where I am going.
    Merry christmas to you and yours!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Cecilia, it can be hard sometimes when you get tempted to forget the plan and I have lost friends in the past when I have been so focused on what I need to do. Merry Christmas,
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  27. Wishing you well in your goals and have every faith you will do as you set out to do. As for your comment re bigheadedness, its funny to see the differing attitudes between Ireland/UK and the US. I too think positively and believe I can succeed in my goals, some may raise eyebrows at me but assertiveness and confidence are very different to arrogance. Here is to you and your assertive path. xx

    Reply

      1. I love your assertiveness and confidence and would never think of you as bigheaded. Rather, a great example of a strong woman. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday. xx

    1. I’ve always loved that expression ‘you go girl’. I had a quilt cover and things from Bang on the Door – Groovy Chick I think they were called with positive messages on them 😉
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  33. You’re so right Charlotte and with your strong will and determination and your beautiful voice, you will make it.
    Don’t let anyone get in your way, stay strong, keep well and look after yourself. See you very soon.

    Happy Christmas,

    Love from both of us xxxx

    Reply

    1. Hi, I hope your charity concert in the Arndale went well, sorry I couldn’t come along to support you ;). Fabulous charity The Christie Hospital. I’m getting stronger every day now, hope we can get together at the end of the holidays.
      Love to you both xx
      Charlotte

      Reply

  34. What a great picture creation and if you don’t believe in yourself, then perhaps others won’t either. Believing makes it really happen. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    Reply

    1. I will keep believing Hilary, sometimes you have to have a rest on a landing before you can advance, it is maintaining your desire to improve rather than settling that seems the hard thing to do.
      All the best
      Charlotte

      Reply

  38. Hm this really made me think. I may write about it later. For now though – good luck to you! Your optimism will see you through the coming year, I am sure 🙂

    Reply

  40. Just a little drive-by posting, Charlotte, to wish you and your family a great day, with all the warmth and happiness you could wish, and a speedy return to singing in the New Year.

    Reply

  41. Of course, Charlotte, you are a star, and I think more of us will see and hear you as you grow in your craft and art. Thanks for setting aside that famous English understatement to tell us about your dreams. There’s something about the blogging world that encourages confidences and rewards shared dreams. Last February I wrote a post called Dear Readers, This Year I Want to Write About Happiness (http://wp.me/p20HD7-vP). Whether by coincidence or not, 2013 has turned out to be full of joy for me. May the coming year bring you joy as well.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Mary, that was a lovely post thank you for linking it for me. You have a lovely job, how rewarding for you ;). I used to always sing at Christmas at a care home I kept away this year for obvious reasons.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  44. Thanks for visiting and liking my blog post and in the course of so doing, introducing me to your delightful site…and your beautiful voice! I know I will enjoy visiting over and over again!

    Reply

  45. Great post!

    I’ve always lived by this Teddy Roosevelt quote:

    “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ”

    With that in mind, I’ve gone from living in a town of 1800, in a family where our father died at age thirty-nine, to designing IC’s, some of which are in spacecraft headed for the edge of the solar system, and having built a company with 3500 employees around the world along the way.

    Cannot tell you how many times people said, “you can’t do that,” or “that can’t be done,” or “I told you so..”

    I own all my successes, and more importantly, my failures. You can’t have one without the other.

    Keep at it, with your attitude you will either achieve all you desire, and/or you will minimally live the life you wanted to live. Either way, you win.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rick, thank you for your wise words, great quote by Roosevelt thank you for bringing it to me.
      I looked up IC’s on Google and it said ‘integrated circuits’ how brilliant that something you created is going off into space and you’ve been able to create work for so many people. I identify with what you say lots of people think I’m charmed and get things easy, they don’t see the ‘No thanks’ rejections, sharp critiques, watching people getting opportunities and offers that I thought I stood a good chance in. My parents have a similar philosophy to you and we just looked for other opportunities and don’t give up.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. Well Charlotte, you’ve definitely got the right attitude. Your life will be what you decide to make of it. I wish you the best of luck, and by luck, I mean those things we do to create opportunities for ourselves.

        afn,
        Rick

  46. Hi Charlotte:
    Hello from the Great North Woods of New Hampshire, USA!
    What a wonderful talent you have been blessed with. Loved-and are grateful for the recordings you’ve shared. We also appreciate the inspirational words.
    Here is a quote for you, from Christa McAuliffe, who was a fellow teacher, and astronaut here in the United States:
    “Any dream can come true, if you have the courage to work at it.”
    Keep up the great work, and thanks for visiting us. We look forward to keeping up with your success!
    Blessings,
    Ted and Carol

    Reply

    1. Hi Ted and Carol, that’s lovely, thank you. I like Christa’s quote I put them all on a mood board and look at them when I need some inspiration.

      Blessings to you both,
      Charlotte

      Reply

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