Dare to Dream Big (Part 2: Take Action)

If you haven’t already read part 1 of this post I highly recommend you take the time to read it before you continue (click here to read it).

You should have your list of dreams…BIG DREAMS…written out by now.  Do you already feel inspired to start working towards your dreams?   

That is very common, spend a few minutes thinking about your goals and you suddenly want to get out and take over the world. Well…maybe it’s just wanting to reach your dreams but that inspiration is there. Why then, is it that we get that sudden inspiration yet fail to reach our dreams?

There are several reasons why we fail to reach our dreams. Remember though that you only fail if you stop trying. As Thomas Edison once said

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

I hope that everyone says, “I haven’t failed, I’m halfway there and getting closer daily!” It’s that positive attitude that can make such a difference in your life. Here’s where I really want you to be honest with yourself.  Are you really making progress?  

Lesson 1:

There was a YouTube video I saw about a year ago (I wish I could find it) that talked about how most people will get excited about a project. They thrive off of the excitement that their friends and family show for them working towards their dreams. Once that initial excitement fades (appx 30 days) and the reality shows up, they jump ship (I like to call this Dream Jumping). They find another project to invest their time and energy into.  

I’m as much a culprit of this as anyone and need to constantly remind myself of the need to stick with the project until it’s done.  Some of my dreams are lifelong dreams that I need to continually give focus to like being the best Patriarch EVER! Others are ones that if I stuck with it consistently I’d probably be done by now.

A great example in my list of dreams is being a successful author. I find that the more I write, the easier it becomes. The story flows more smoothly and I don’t have to take time to catch up with what I’ve already written. When I take a break…It slows me down and at times can discourage me knowing I’m not as far along as I want to be.  

All successful people will tell you that the way they became successful only after pushing through that initial motivation. Doing what they dreamt of long past what they wanted. They will also tell you that it was worth it to reach your dreams. Reaching a dream feels great!  

Whether you are talking about writing, diet, owning a house outright, or any other dream one thing is certain, if you are consistent you’ll reach your dream.  Consistency doesn’t mean consistently jumping from dream to dream but rather to consistently work towards that dream when others would have stopped.

“Effort only fully releases its reward

after a person refuses to quit.” — Napoleon Hill

 Lesson 2:

Having written your dreams down, have you placed them somewhere you’ll see them on a regular basis?

“A man is what he thinks about all day long.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you really want to reach your dreams you need to think about them often. Seeing them often keeps it on your mind.  In researching I found some interesting things about writing goals/dreams (to view the article this information came from click here) 

·         80% of Americans say they don’t have goals

·         16% do have goals but don’t write them down

·         Less than 4 % write them down and fewer than 1% review them on an ongoing basis

It’s no wonder that so many people fail to reach their dreams (if they even have them to begin with).

Now that it’s on your mind, what steps (or tactics) are you taking that will help you reach your goal? My goal of running a ½ marathon is a great example of this. Get a dr. to review my ankle to see what needs to be done so I can safely run. Run 3-4 times a week. Do cross training 1-2 days a week. Rest 1-2 days a week. That’s not enough though. That’s just some of the steps. I have to be specific as to when I want to run the ½ marathon. i.e. Sept 14^th. I have to be specific on the days of the week I run, and the distance.

It can almost feel overwhelming if you choose to focus on all of your dreams at once. It’s time to prioritize. Choose the most important to you. Put in a plan for you. Give a buffer zone and then fight to get it. Don’t dream jump (you’re only hurting yourself if you do). One are two dreams well organized will help you be successful.

Recap: Don’t dream jump (pick and achieve one or two goals at a time then move on), write / prioritize your dreams, review them often and remember that you can TRAVEL TO THE MOON!