Dreaming Dreams, Setting Goals, and Making Lists
I imagine if you are an unorganized and unstructured person, right now you are squirming a bit at the title of today’s post. Settle down, it’s not as bad at you might think. On the other hand, if you couldn’t be more structured in your daily living, then you are thrilled that someone else on the planet cares about making plans, etching them in stone, paper, or cyberspace, and preaching the importance of an orderly life. Fortunately, I have found myself somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. Therefore, I have insight for both groups of women, or at least plausible empathy.
It’s Okay to Dream
Let’s start with the dreams. It wasn’t hard to drift off to a pleasant daydream of splendor and perfection during class or one of your parent’s endless lectures when you were a child. So, why does it seem so crazy or unrealistic now to think about a better life, things we don’t have, and being a better person? Everyone wants to dream up alternatives to our present situations, but I think that we get scared that things can’t possibly change or that we are somehow being selfish. Well, the fact is we were made to hope, create, and to think about making things better; it’s in our DNA. So if you are not spending at least some time dreaming about what could be, then I hope you will pay close attention to this post.
Putting Forth the Energy
Nothing is final, the fat lady hasn’t sung yet, and you certainly owe it to yourself to consider thinking outside of your present circumstance, even if you are content. Believe it or not, we have the power to change our lives through this principle. When you put mental and emotional energy into wanting something, and then you believe you will receive it, it will happen. Many books have been written on this subject. It may not be in the exact way that you thought, but it will come. Our life’s dreams and passions are the substance that make us feel alive, and when we deny ourselves the right to seek those things, a part of us dies.
Making Your Dreams More Real
I have made dozens of dream books over the years…an early form of scrap booking. They were mostly filled with ideas of how I wanted my house to look, my perfect body, and pictures of all the places that I wanted to travel to. The principal had begun stirring in me even when I didn’t understand what I was doing; however, I had a major flaw in my little dream collections. I never really believed that I would have those things. The artfully displayed pictures were simply nice to look at. I would toss the books after awhile and never think of my plans again; another way of making it okay if nothing changed in my life. This was a form of self-sabotage…I’ll write about that later in the series.
Just Believe
It’s fine to let go of old dreams if they don’t seem significant anymore, but if we do it because we can’t muster up the courage to believe that they can come true, then we have a problem. Dreams take time; they also take effort. Though some dreams require the endeavors and cooperation of others to come to pass, many of them are all on us. In other words, no more excuses!
Helping You Visualize
I now have a single dream board that is perched up on a towel rack in my vanity area. The reason it is in such an odd place is so I can see it and think about it 
everyday…more than once a day. I have everything from travel photos to a large “MILLIONAIRE” statement that reminds me that I have a right to dream and accomplish it all. Some things have already come to pass, but most, I am still waiting for. The point is I will not take that board out of my sight until every last thing is reality. I do still add things from time to time, as this keeps my creative juices flowing and my heart dreaming bigger.
Sharing Your Dreams
The other important thing is to be forthright about what you want. Don’t be afraid to talk about your plans to others and even show them your dream board. I used to avoid showing others what I wanted because I thought they would laugh; now I want everyone to know! Don’t worry if sharing your private thoughts and dreams with others petrifies you; just keep them to yourself until you feel more confident.
Notify Your Body
After you have your board up somewhere you can’t help but see it, begin to imagine yourself having and doing the things represented. See yourself in that new car, feel yourself holding the leather steering wheel. Smell the new car scent. You get the point. When you make it real to your mind, your body sends out signals to the world that it’s time to make it happen. Call it positive energy or the law of attraction; all I know is that it works.
Be Patient
Timing is everything, though. Don’t expect everything to drop on your doorstep overnight. Just be consistent in your focus and be patient. Ideas will come, new people will come bearing opportunities out of nowhere, and you will find yourself thinking bigger than ever before. The possibilities are as infinite as your imagination!
I think I have given you enough to think about today, so we will pick up the setting goals and making lists part of this post over the next couple of days. Smile today, and don’t forget to dream big!
