Belinda Vesey-Brown | Self-concept | 100 dreams wish list
Self-concepts can be defined by our life experiences. Having a co-walker die on the Kokoda track and surviving a shattering car accident Belinda doesn't know when her time is up, so is working through her 100 dreams wish list. Are these your dreams too?
I am 32-years-old and the founder and principal designer of Brisbane graphic design studio, RED-i Design. I started RED-i Design in 2002 because I needed a challenge after five years in the industry. I believe in team-work and thrive on empowering my wonderful team at RED-i Design.
I come from a working-class Australian family. My mother is a housewife, and my father is an insurance salesman who refuses to retire, and the president of the Mt Gravatt Rotary Club and Fiat Car Club Queensland. Thanks to my parents love of Fiats I now own four Fiats and am a member of the Fiat Car Club Queensland.
I also have one younger sister who is studying to become a teacher.
I went to Cannon Hill Anglican College and I have a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Griffith University.
I am happily married to graphic designer and director of RED-i Design, Paul Vesey-Brown. At the moment I have no children, but I wish to have 2 or 3 - it's number five on my Belinda’s 100 Dreams list.
I came up with Belinda’s 100 Dreams in 2007 and am working away at crossing each item off. The list is compiled of experiential, personal, inspirational, and ‘giving back’ dreams that keep me motivated and on track.
In 2006 I was in a bad car accident that left me with a fractured sternum, fractured spine, a seatbelt injury to my stomach, and dislodged teeth. It was also the end of my Fiat 124 that took us 12 months to restore (we only had it on the road 3 months). I was devastated.
Number one of my dreams list is to own a red Fiat 2.4 Litre Dino Spider with black upholstery.
This year for ANZAC Day I walked the Kokoda track, which was number 40 on my dreams list, with my good friend and colleague, Tanya Heading. I walked the track for the challenge – both mental and physical. I don't have a strong focus on my health, but with this goal the by-product of preparing for the trek was getting fit and healthy.
A co-walker died on the track and he was only 26. This made me question life and life's purpose. You never know when your time is up so it is important to stay focused on what is important. I overcame tragedy and pain (in my feet) to get to the end.
To overcome the death of a new friend, we as a team said we would walk for him and have a drink at the end – which we did. And for the pain in my feet I literally told myself that my pain could not get any worse, and I spoke to the other walkers about how they were feeling to take the focus off me. It was a massive accomplishment and learning experience for me, and the team spirit and mateship is what kept me going.
I have also done a fair bit of charity work - I found that the reward was really for me in the end, I feel so good helping others. At the moment I am a Pyjama Angel for the The Pyjama Foundation. I go and spend one hour a week playing games and reading to a child in foster care. It is very rewarding.
I lost my confidence when I got to a stage in my business where friends and family around me were saying 'Is it all worth it? Are you trying to kill yourself?' I began to question what I was doing and myself.
I never thought I was good enough to be really successful - that was a limiting belief that I had always had, as there wasn't any evidence that that would be the case. Identifying it helped me overcome it.
I also overcame my loss in confidence by asking myself, 'What is the worst thing that can happen?' and creating Belinda’s 100 Dreams. The list has helped me build my confidence through achieving each dream one at a time.
Self-confidence is overcoming that uncomfortable feeling of stepping out of your comfort zone - but the feeling of success is always worth it.
I stay confident by controlling the environment around me. I fill it with positive, like-minded people - people who want to pull me up, instead of pulling me back down to their level.
I believe in people continually pushing their boundaries - stretching their rubber bands. I grow more mentally tough with each challenge I conquer and as a result of doing this, my confidence grows.
I have a strong focus on my goals - where I want to go and why I am doing what I am doing - so when people ask if it is worth it I can say "yes" because I know why I am doing it.
Visit Belinda's website: www.red-idesign.com
Read more about "Illness, trauma and self-concept"
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24, Nov, 2009
Reader Comments (9)
Love the concept of your "dream" list and how it also includes "giving back" dreams. We can often help ourselves by helping others. Thanks for sharing your interesting story.
Fran Yeoh
Your journey of development is fascinating through your dream list. I have never thought of having one - thanks for the inspiration.
I wonder why a car is above any other dream? How did you decide on the order or your dreams? How did you come up with the list?
Thanks so much for being on Confident Woman.
Let your self-confidnece shine
Blessings
Rachel.
Having it there is my motivation that keeps me going. I have a picture of it on my phone, on my desk, even on my TomTom when it starts up. When I have a bad day, it helps to keep me focused.
To 'earn' the car I have a graph that I colour in when I contribute to the savings account I have set up for it - only a percentage of my profit goes towards it. It is a bit like the dangling carrot, I know it would be easier to just to go out and buy it but for me the challenge is in achieving the goal of having a successful business that will give me time and money to help people, and the measuring device (reward of getting there) is having the funds to buy the car.
The dreams are simply listed in the order I thought of them. It is interesting to note that most people have about 20 they can put down quickly, and for some that is all they need to list. I loved the process of thinking what could I do if I put no limits on myself. Start the list, you will be amazed at where it will take you.
Belinda
Jasa