Staying On The Path
"Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."- Goethe
This is part 4 in the Dream Maker series.
Since we live in a time where information is at our fingertips, it is relatively easy to find all kinds of tools and resources to help you live your God inspired dreams.
So whether your dream is to start a nonprofit to serve the homeless in your community.
Or
To use your passion for all things technology and help other women start businesses.
Or
To use your gifts for words and write books that help to change people’s lives.
There is an abundance of resources available.
But with all things, too much information can be a bad thing if you allow it. What I mean is for all the vital information we consume on things pertaining to our dreams, it all doesn’t mean much if we never take what we learn and put it to use.
I know for years before deciding to pursue my dream of writing and helping women, I would read all types of books. I would consume so much information and be inspired by what I read, but never really put anything into action on a consistent basis. I came to realize my constant “research” was simply a form of procrastination which for me is fear of taking action.
When you get to the basics of being a dream maker, the bottom line is that there comes a point where you must
KNOW and then ACT
Be clear about what your God inspired dream is and your why for pursuing it. Then take action by doing the things that are necessary for making your dreams a reality.
I know firsthand that there is more to dream making then just knowing and acting. There are fears and doubts to contend with, challenges and obstacles to overcome and highs and lows that will test your resolve.
But what I also know is that clarity about your dream and your why, keeps you moving forward when things get tough and you want to maybe give up or not even get started.
To help keep me moving forward and acting on my dreams, I have four things I return to all the time. They have proven effective when I am doing “more research” and becoming overwhelmed by the information I am taking in when I find myself slipping into the trap of comparison to what others are doing, and when things are not going the way I think they should go.
When any of these things creep up, I return to my main sources of information:
My Faith. It sustains me through the hard times of dream making. It reminds me that I am not alone in this and that something bigger than me is also at work to make this dream a reality.
My Why. It keeps me connected to my dream and reminds me of the reasons I am doing this.
My Pen and Journal. They are my place of safety. It’s where I can put my thoughts and feelings, keep a record of my dream making journey and connect deeper to my dreams.
If you have never kept a journal or if you have never articulated your God inspired dreams on paper, I encourage you to do so. This simple act of writing gives life to your dreams and takes all the abstract ideas in your head and puts them into a concrete tangible form.
I have listed below a few questions that are worth thinking and writing about as you take up the Dream Maker mantle. Whether you are new to following your dreams or have been on the path for a while, the questions will help you think on a deeper level about your dreams.
So grab a pen and a journal, pair it up with your faith and a quiet place to write and begin following your dreams by putting them on paper. After you have answered each journal prompt read your responses aloud. Come back to your writings often during your journey. Keep connecting to your dreams, your why and your faith. Let your writings be the first information you seek to read and consume.
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Journal Prompts
*Identify the dream. Write in vivid details what your dream is. Write it in the present tense as if you are living it now. Include your why in the details. What is your reason for pursuing your God inspired dreams? What does it look and feel like to be in pursuit of your dreams?
*Imagine your dream in a BIG way. Describe what that looks and feels like. Don’t limit your imagination. Let it dream as big as it wants to.
*Write down all the ways and reasons why your dream will work. Embrace the fears of dream making by combating the negative thoughts with positive reasons for your success.
*Write down all the things that make you feel uncomfortable about your dream. Then next to it write all the positive ways you will handle those uncomfortable feelings.
*Write down five small steps you will commit to taking over the next five days towards your dream. Make the commitment and then act by doing what you have written down.
*Identify your strengths. Be reminded of all the wonderful things about yourself. Use this list when times of doubt and insecurity want to derail your dreams.
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Share your thoughts or questions by sending me an email.
Happy Dream Making!