With the new year right around the corner, there is no better time than now to dust off some of the dreams and aspirations that have taken up residence in a deeply buried spot of your heart and mind. I’m not talking about ordinary new year’s resolutions but rather, the kind of things you dream about doing but have been putting off year after year after year.

Earlier this year I turned 26. I’m now in a new age group on online polls – past the “mid” 20s. I’m officially closer to 30 than 20 and that’s kind of wild considering half of the time I feel like the Rugrats in the episode where they became “big people” …

 

As I get older though, I think a lot about how much time has passed by and what I want to do with however much more time I have left. Not to sound grim but there really is no guaranteed life span for any of us.  I’ve realized that when it comes to bigger goals that I’d like to achieve, the only thing between me and achieving them oftentimes is … myself.  For whatever reason, I’ve always battled with this nagging feeling that I’m not capable of accomplishing big things. I guess its roots from a lack of self-confidence. But it’s time for that mindset to change.

As time ticks on, I look at those around me I realize that there are people younger than me that are smashing BIG goals, as well as people much older doing the same. It’s not about age. It’s about belief and action. I am capable of my dreams and so are you. And the first step is to truly believe the radical idea that – You can do anything you set your mind to.

We all have one, or a few of these dreams. It could be getting our artistic work published or displayed, a trip we want to go on “someday”, a lengthy bucket list, etc.

Chances are if your dream is related to the arts, you feel like you’re not good enough. If your dream requires a decent amount of money, you feel that you can’t financially make it work. But is this really true? Or is this message that you’ve been conditioned to believe more comfortable than taking even the smallest form of action?

In today’s overly digital world, the work, or actions that we could be making to achieve our dreams often get put to the wayside as our subconscious tells us its “too much work”. Meanwhile, our phones buzz us notifications that say we’ve used ___ hours of screen time this week.

Our phones and devices have become an enormous distraction from reaching our highest potentials. We have all this information in the palm of our hands but we aren’t using it as a resource to achieving our dreams as much as we are using it as a distraction from the stresses of life.

Here’s the thing… you really can do whatever you set your mind to. Think about the Wright brothers who created the airplane! What a colossal goal that was – and yet – they figured it out.

It all starts with a plan.

If it’s a creative dream you have, you can start working on your craft now, be it writing, painting, music, etc. Commit to setting aside a block of time every day for it. If it’s important to you, give it your attention.

If it’s money that you need to get closer to your dream, you can make a plan for that too. Even if you put aside $1 a week towards a goal that costs a lot of money, such as going on a trip, that $1 a week will add up. A small amount of money set aside may not seem like much but it will get you to your dream faster than sitting with a false acceptance that you’re incapable of achieving it.

Not all dreams are created equal in the eyes of society, that’s for sure. And because of this a lot of people aren’t making a plan to achieve their dream because they think that it’s either foolish, embarrassing or impossible. My dream of becoming a mother was not seen as unrealistic or an issue to most people. But some of my other dreams, primarily creative ones might come across more like a fantasy to some people.

But does it matter what society thinks about your dreams and goals? No. It really doesn’t. This is YOUR life to live. This is your human experience. Fill it with the things that matter to YOU. The worst that can happen when you try is that you may fail. But in that “failure” you will learn a lesson that might help you to succeed the next time you try.

So that big thing you’ve been dreaming of doing?? Go for it. Believe in yourself. Don’t give up on what matters to you.

 

Your capabilities are endless.

 

Sending love & light,