To Dream Bigger means to think outside the box, to imagine your life changed in a way to achieve your wildest dreams. There are no limits to what can be achieved when we make a decision and take action to make it happen. I believe there is no better time than TODAY to take that 1st (or 1000th) step to bring your dreams to reality. Yes, we likely have to change our thinking, I call it “stinky thinking“. We can be our worst enemies when it comes to achieving our desires. Plus, eliminate the self-talk telling us we cannot do it. We know too well that our lives are full of uncertainties; don’t let that keep you from moving forward in a really big way!!
Martin Luther King Jr.: I Have A Dream
I Have A Dream…Martin Luther King Jr. We all know those words. They echo throughout the years. I find these words, spoken by a truly great man, personally inspiring. If Martin Luther King Jr could have a dream for mankind, I can certainly have dreams for myself, my family, and my small community. Dream I Must, Action I Must Take…my words, my Dreams.
Dreams can come true. In your mind, you need to believe in them and take small steps daily to bring your dreams closer to reality. Yes, we will experience bumps along the way, but if we learn from those challenges placed before us, we can minimize them, shove them aside, and keep moving.
Where does your strength come from? My strength comes from my spirituality, my love for God, and the support of my family and friends. The rest comes from within myself.
To Dream Bigger, Make The Dreams Real
One way to be very specific about your dreams is to write them in your dream journal or a notebook. If you don’t know what you want, then you can’t achieve it, can you? However, you can still start on your path before being 100% sure of what will happen. You just have to have an idea of what you want to happen and then find a way to narrow it down as you move closer and closer to your dream.
- For example, let’s say you’ve always loved writing and want to be a real writer at the end of the day. You may not know whether you want to write novels, be a journalist, or even be an inspirational blogger, but you may have a better sense of what you want as you move in the right direction.
- Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out. Maybe your dream is just to find a job that makes you feel like you’re making a real difference in the world. There are many ways to make this happen, and having a broad goal will help you get there.
Here’s my dream for the world to see:
My dream, my true desire, is to remain physically and mentally healthy well into my advanced age. I want to contribute to the happiness of my husband, children, and grandchildren, and to make a difference in my small section of the world. And throughout these coming years to be financially comfortable and independent. I do not want to be a burden to my family, and, if God willing, be successful in my business and leave a legacy for my heirs.
Put Your Dreams Into a PLAN
Now that you have stated that Bigger Dream, share it with others. Make it real! Give some thought to your PLAN, then write it down. When you have a dream that is a burning desire, have written it down, and have a plan, it moves that dream from a “wish” to a “goal”. The goal will have actual actions you will be taking.
After I retired from a very rewarding nursing career at the age of 67, I felt like a ship adrift in a large ocean. I found myself searching for something to fill the void. Something to give me meaning and the ability to contribute to my family and others. I must admit, I stayed adrift for about 3 years. Sure, I was doing the things retired people are supposed to do: cleaning out the closets, organizing photo albums, binge-watching Netflix, visiting family and friends, and completing crafts I had started years ago. I even served on the board of our HOA for two years. None of those things were fulfilling and I found myself unmotivated to do much of anything else.
For me, once I wrote down my Goals, and then committed to an Action Plan, I found myself taking the steps to make my dreams come true. My Initial Goal:
- Find an online program where I can learn a new career, utilize my nursing knowledge and leadership skills, help others improve their lives, and contribute to my family income.
Bigger Dreams Require ACTION
Once you have your goals stated, and your plan developed, it is time to take ACTION. For me, this was a no-brainer. My goals continue to push me to implement my plan and make revisions along the way. This can be the hardest part for some people. If you are not truly committed to achieving your burning desire, your Dream Bigger is not going to happen.
It is time to stop making excuses, stop procrastinating, and put that Plan into Action. Sure, there are always great reasons to put off achieving your dreams. Things such as having to plan your wedding, going through a busy time at work, getting embroiled in a complicated relationship, and so on. But if you have this attitude, you can end up making excuses forever and won’t ever get a thing done.
After much research, I selected an online program in Network Marketing I believed would provide me with the training, tools, and support I needed to reach my goals. I then refined my plan to work within that program. My plan included the daily schedule I follow, weekly goals to achieve, and a review of my weekly achievements. I then plan my next week, based on my Plan-Do-Review-Plan. This helps me to stay on track and make adjustments as I go along.
Now, in 2023, I am enjoying the fruits of my labor. I have:
- Learned a new skill and now consider myself a professional Network Marketer
- Have a team of over 100 members, several of whom are themselves achieving their dreams
- Continue to utilize my nursing knowledge and leadership skills
- Keeping my mind sharp and engaged with people throughout the world
- Contributing to my family income, and
- Have a feeling of fulfillment and enjoyment within my community of fellow marketers
Do you ever truly meet your Goals? I say “Yes and No”. Maybe your original goals are met. But I find the more we achieve, the more confidence we gain, and then we stretch ourselves to even higher goals. After all, isn’t that what Dream Bigger is all about?
In Summary
I say, take the steps, Dream Bigger, and change your life and those of others for the better. You may not know exactly what lies ahead for you, but you can certainly make the most of the time God has given us here on Earth to make your life truly GREAT. Go For It Today! I did and I am so glad I took the Actions needed to make it happen. Again:
- Understand your Dream; have a deep desire to make it happen
- Know what you want and tell yourself every day! Manifest your dreams to reality.
- Develop your Plan and put it into Action
- Plan-Do-Review-Plan: make those tweaks weekly to stay on track
- Be consistent for consistency is Everything…and take Action