People through out the ages have had strong convictions that made the mainstream uncomfortable before they were able to achieve success.  The road for people who have shown us what this looks like risked their lives and personal safety along with the wrath of the public who held opposing views.  What they stood for was not the majority at first, however, enough people felt as they did that they caused the majority to change with time.  History has been filled with those great examples of people that had the courage of their convictions to change the world around them.  Joan of Arc, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Abraham Lincoln are but a few whose deep imprints have left lasting marks well after they were gone.  I believe that we have the ability to have such fixed and firm beliefs that we can alter our own history.  Our convictions may not be as deep as those famous people, however, we are quite capable of such achievements.  In our normal everyday lives we may strive for goals of improved health, financial well being, achieving a higher education or perhaps to raise our children to be successful adults.  There are many things that one can tackle, however, hard work and determination are key factors that follow these equations.  The work can be broken down into small palatable bites, prior to obtaining success.  Before we can move forward with following what we want changed, we need to convince ourselves first that we can achieve it.  If those people in history had a bad day and decided that they did not want to follow the courage of their convictions, we would be living in a different world today.  Understand that we can change our own history.  Dream big and live up to your convictions as you seek to leave your own imprint for your posterity.  Let the future generations know that courage of one's firm beliefs can alter their lives and change the world around them one day at a time.