I was listening to a podcast, and the host admitted she was delusional, which she said is why she was able to do what nobody else would and why she’s done what others haven’t.

To be Great, you just need to be a little off

I’ve heard it said over and over again that all of the greats are a bit off. I think you have to be delusional in order to do great things. One of my heroes is Arnold Schwarzenegger because his life is absurd. Who in their right mind would think they could come to America for bodybuilding from a small Austrian city, and then not only do it, but also win the Mr. Olympia title seven times in a row, setting a new record?

Then he decides to get into movies with his thick Austrian accent, and not only does he do it, but he also becomes one of the highest-paid action stars in history.

Of course this isn’t enough: He decides to get into politics and becomes governor of the country’s most successful state, my home state of California.  At almost eighty years old, Arnold is still putting on fitness festivals; he’s doing movies; he’s hosting climate summits; and he still works out every day.

That, my friends, is a perfect example of delusion.

Over the last few years, I’ve been around a lot of bland, dull, and uninspiring people. Zero imagination, no real exposure outside of their bubble, and rigid thinking. They don’t believe in anything beyond what they see and can accomplish themselves.

It’s not the life for me.

I’ve joined team delusional.

I have some crazy, wild, wild thoughts in my head, and as I’ve started this Fall Acceleration season, I’m becoming more convinced they’re going to happen.

Ignore reality and lock in.

I thought I would wait until I saw a tangible change before I began upgrading and locking in, but that’s not faith.

I’ve got to lock in first and then begin the upgrades; then reality will catch up. I’ve heard variations of this advice multiple times in the last few weeks. Delusional people already believe it will happen, so they lock in and put in the work.

Years ago, at church, an older woman named Sister Overall told me that the vision I have for my life is already done. She said, “the reason I see it so clearly because it is already done”.

Over the last ten years, I stopped believing the vision because nothing seemed to be happening. It seemed like my active imagination was running away with me again, but even in the last two weeks, I’ve had confirmation that I didn’t make anything up.

Threads of fate are starting to reveal themselves, and old, dormant goals are being awakened.

I am a storyteller

Because of a scheduling conflict, I ended up taking a different writing class than I planned. Truthfully, the class I am taking now resonated strongly with me when I first saw it, but I thought it wouldn’t work for my schedule. Anyway, I ended up in the class, and it is perfectly aligned with my life.

I am hearing things that I remember learning twenty years ago in college.

During this season, I have thought that everything I learned was a waste, and that going to college was a waste of time if I was just going to settle for the life I have now.

Maybe it wasn’t a waste after all.

In our first class meeting, our professor echoed the same writing principles I learned in college. I talked about aspirations I haven’t discussed in twenty years, and what I learned from some of the top people in entertainment.

During the class, I felt that gnawing spark in my middle again, as I did at the Samara Joy concert. My inner flame is being reignited and reawakened. The fire is being lit deep down in my soul. It’s not burning just yet, but it’s coming.

A few weeks ago, I wrote down ideas about my next career; I ended each with the declaration, “I am a storyteller.” I am a natural communicator, and telling stories is one of my gifts, either through the written or spoken word. It’s time to step into that gifting.

When I talked to my friend a few weeks ago, I mentioned the energy felt like another time of massive acceleration and growth in my life. She said she felt the same. So much happened in such a short time that it felt unreal. I am getting that same kind of energy in this season, but this time I have the grit, resilience, wisdom, and confidence to navigate the massive changes without running away or self-sabotaging.

I’ve joined team delusional, and I’ve got some reallllly crazy ideas.

I’m locked in.

Let’s go.

Do it, especially if it is crazy.

Attempting crazy endeavors is a major part of being delusional.

You can’t listen to “it’s too late, you’re too old, it won’t happen, blah, blah blah.” What you do is say

Okay, this is the objective, and you set about putting in the work.”

I’ve only been with Team Delusional for one week, and so far it is better than the alternative