Rise In Brilliance

Do you feel it? That new energy in the air as the year turns. New Year’s Eve always brings with it a certain freshness, a new energy bursting with the will to be harnessed in the fulfillment of one’s dreams. All over the world, people cast their secret desires into the universe, filling the air with a magical glow. While you can start pursuing your greatest visions at any time, there is something truly wonderful about this collective prayer transmission. It is a reminder that many of us share a yearning for positive change and the courage to chase our dreams, making this an auspicious time to take the first step.

Dreaming comes easily to a child. Children see something that sparks excitement and immediately begin imitating it in their own way. Through endless imaginative play, they transform their desires into real experiences. That’s how I once flew a helicopter under the clouds in my Lego town, ran a wonderful bakery by making cakes from soil and water in the garden, or became the world’s most skilled spy, hiding behind the closet at my grandmother’s house. Every cell in my body believed it. Everything felt possible.

However, as we grow older, it seems we place less value on our imagined experiences, focusing instead solely on physical results. Yet, it is in our inner world that we build the foundation, gathering experiences that later pave the way to tangible outcomes when we commit ourselves fully. What begins as carefree play in childhood can evolve into a powerful tool for envisioning and creating our realities as adults.

In 2019, at the age of 27 and only in my fifth year as a professional disc golfer, I experienced this firsthand. Before stepping onto the first tee of the first round at USWDGC, I had already lived through the competition in my mind — visualizing it as though it had already happened. What started as a vivid vision at the beginning of the week became a reality by the end, as I secured my first major victory. Back then, it felt like this just happened to me, but now I believe you can consciously choose to do this.

An important thing to remember is that not everything will always turn out the way we envisioned. Life is full of twists and turns, but that doesn’t mean we’re on the wrong path. Every unexpected turn has taught me something invaluable, even when it felt like a setback. Often, those detours led me to destinations more extraordinary than I could have planned.

The first step toward the life of your dreams begins with finding your brilliance. Brilliance is not a gift reserved for a select few but an ability that lies within all of us. If there is something you truly desire, it is worth saying yes to it and fully committing. Understand that most of the time, there will be no audience for this journey — only your own eyes to witness it.

There are no cameras or crowds when I wake up sleepy in the morning and don’t feel like going to the gym but go anyway. No one is watching when I spend hours in the track and field hall late at night, throwing discs into the net to refine a small element of my technique. Brilliance does not need spectators; it is a flame burning inside you, fueled by inner drive, curiosity, and passion.

Brilliance is not a goal looming in the future, because we often don’t know when or how we’ll arrive. Instead, brilliance is the daily act of working on something uniquely yours. It’s about putting one foot in front of the other until, one day, you realize you’ve been living it all along. You’ve always been surrounded by brilliance.

Take a moment right now. Close your eyes and ask yourself: What is the one thing you feel drawn to this year? This year, make it the year you say yes to that calling.

Find your brilliance and rise in brilliance!

Here’s to another great journey around the sun!