On 26th April, a business networking group I enjoy launched a new meeting in Salisbury. Having Simon Weston, Falklands Veteran, as our keynote speaker was eagerly anticipated. Who of us could imagine what it must be like for Simon to face such enormous setbacks to his dreams of a long and exciting life of service in the Army?

Simon was engaging, funny, even a little risqué! We were laughing when perhaps we thought we'd might have been moved to a different kind of tears. There was not a single trace of self-pity in this bold, brave, and inspirational call to embrace a bigger future – utterly appropriate for the launch message of a new direction for our network.

To me, Simon's message was clear: dreams are sometimes unfulfilled, but destiny still provides new opportunities – even obligations. Specifically, Simon declared that he'd made the best of the future he had and poured his passion and commitment into making it the best that it could be. The result is his role as an ambassador for the tens of thousands of Service men and women whose stories have not caught the public's attention to such an extent.

Simon reminds us of the cost of Serving one's Country, one's family, one's 'Tribe' - and of our ongoing obligation to do our best to make a positive difference. I use 'obligation' here in the most positive sense. There are opportunities for us to make a positive difference to our own corner of the world, and to the 'tribes' we seek to belong to – such as Moodscope.

Obligation, however, takes us well beyond this opportunity. The obligation is to become, like Simon, the best that we can be for the benefit of all. That bigger vision, though it may sound a tad woo woo (and totally unlikely when we're feeling depressed), is the difference that will keep us going when challenges surround us and threaten to deflate our commitment to being the best. It gives us a powerful 'Why' that will keep us moving forward when we're tempted to stop doing what we know we could.

Yesterday, a formerly suicidal friend said their life had changed with a single thought. He said, "Do you know what you do when there is no light at the end of the tunnel?" When I didn't know the answer, he said, "You become the light." I thought that was profound, and exactly what Simon had done with his life. His was a no hope, game-over, scenario, and yet he has created a future that he genuinely seemed to enjoy.

Anthony Robbins suggests that, "...very often not getting your dream gives you your destiny." Simon Weston's dream turned into a nightmare, but his courage and resilience has transformed that into a destiny that has helped all who have been touched by his life. That is something to be proud of.

If you are like me, many of your dreams have died – now impossible – but perhaps, just perhaps, a bigger destiny awaits us. What do you think? Is this possible?

Neil

A Moodscope member.