“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? What would it take for you to feel completely free and elated? These are inspiring questions many people never think about. Even when we let ourselves dream we come back to “reality” and assume, “Life can’t be that good?” It’s nice to dream, but let’s face, they’re called dreams for a reason right? Wrong! When we let go of our dreams we settle for the status quo and follow a path that doesn’t fulfill our deeper purpose and passions. This isn’t always the case of course. Many people are completely happy and fulfilled playing safe and laying low. But for others, the status quo leads to restlessness and boredom. They are left searching for more and feeling a deep deep sense that they have a bigger purpose to fulfill. They know that there is a fire within them and they are searching for a way to ignite it. They want to be more vibrant and free! They want to have full expression and live without restraint!
“Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” – James Langston Hughes
Maybe you have come to a crossroad like this in your life. You have the choice to give up your dream and settling for a life of comfort and safety, or to become more committed than ever to living a meaningful, passionate, and fulfilling life. Are you willing to do what it takes? If you’re ready to go all in keep reading! Here are three steps to help you create that extraordinary life you desire.
1. Chart your path
Most people have never truly taken time to consider how they want their life to be. They may have had the best of intentions, worked their ass off, and did what they were supposed to do, but still feel confused, lost, and dissatisfied. They don’t know what is most important to them or what they really really want! This is why I have nearly every client I work with solidify their core values, and create a vision and mission statement. These are helpful exercise to determine type of lifestyle we want to live and have a clear mental image of how this life will look.
“You’ve got to have a dream, if you want to have a dream come true.” – Dennis Waitley
We are responsible for setting our own standards – the bigger and more inspiring a vision the better. This first step can be a doozy because it requires us to look past our current reality and open up to possibilities that can seem outrageous. But as Albert Einstein is quoted, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” We have to look beyond what we have always know in order to consider the possibility of something new and extraordinary. Everyone is different. There is no right or wrong path to take. What do you really really want? Be willing to challenge yourself and consider the possibilities. What would fill you up and leave you completely and utterly fulfilled?
2. Release the Brakes
Have you ever wondered why despite your desire for change you can’t seem to make it happen? Most people have something holding them back or keeping them stuck. I call these blockages “blind spots” because we may not be consciously aware of them. We have patterns that keep us going down the same path even when we want to go elsewhere. These can be limiting beliefs or just long held habits that keep us going in circle. Old habits die hard because change is uncomfortable. We have to start thinking, feeling, and acting differently than we ever have before. This is why people avoid dealing with problems and why change requires real effort.
“Someone with their feet planted firmly on the ground has no hope of reaching the stars.” – Kelsey Dunn
Most people associate change with pain. There are three major assumptions people make. 1. If go for my dreams I will have to compromise or give up what I have. 2. If I go for my dreams, take the risk and reach them I will be disappointed with the results. 3. I can’t actually have what I want because It will be too hard or difficult. Do one of these familiar to you? Recognize that change is a constant. Don’t be afraid of it and use it to sculpt your life.
3. Get the ball rolling!
Once we have a concept in mind for how we want life to be it’s time to start creating this reality. Start taking action toward your ideal life. Everything starts with an idea before it becomes a reality, and at some point we have to take the next step. We have to be willing to risk failure and challenge ourselves. We have to feel the discomfort and take the next best step regardless.
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” – Jesse Owens
What would be a simple yet useful step you can take to start creating your ideal life? What is the first step to help you get started? I know it sounds simple but this is what it takes. Uncover what you want, push through the obstacles, and start taking action. Get inspired, push through the resistance as it appears, and keep build momentum by staying in action!
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost: that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” – Henry David Thoreau
What do you think? Share a dream you want to create or what you think it takes to make your desires a reality. Leave a comment or question below.
