Can You Describe Your Dream Life?

Can you describe your dream life?

Let’s be honest sitting around day dreaming about what we’d like our life to look like might not be on the top of our “to-do” list today, or this week, or maybe even this year.

As adults we don’t always take time to dream. There are so many more practical and urgent tasks to attend to. You’re thinking, “dreaming isn’t that cute…don’t you understand there is laundry to do, groceries to buy, and families to care for…who has time for dreaming?” I hear ya!

But here is the tough love truth. Without a dream or vision for where we want to go, you’ll never get there.

I don’t say that to be mean, I say it out of love and excitement for you. When you can get clear on your dream, everything else gets so much easier.

You know how to prioritize your time. You can say no to the things that don’t move you closer to where you want to go. You can spend money more intentionally. You can volunteer with more focus. Or you can start the business that moves you closer to your dream.

There is something POWERFUL about having a vision for the future. It’s why vision boards are SO popular.

So here’s the tough question…

Have you taken the time to define or describe your Dream?

It’s taken some time for me to figure out exactly what I wanted my life to look like when “I grow up,” and it has shifted some over the years, but financial flexibility and freedom are high on my list and have been for a while. I want to spend time with my family. I want to travel. I want to live somewhere away from big cities and all the people, because traffic and chaos are two of my least favorite things!

I guess I’ve always been a dreamer, so I’m always surprised when I work with a client who has a hard time deciding what they really want to do, or more importantly what they want their life to look like in 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years.

Unfortunately, the reality is we aren’t always encouraged to dream as adults. We are told to pursue security and success. We go to college, pursue a career, and start a family.  We pursue the American Dream because "that's just what you do."  It’s what success looks like.

And we never stop and ask why or if it’s the right dream for us.

If you have taken the time to actually ask yourself why you are making the choices you are making and you know the life you are pursuing is the one that's right for you, then great!  (you can stop reading now!)

But if you're like most people I know, and like I was for way too many years, you probably haven't actually stopped to think about where it is you want to go and why.

Why do I encourage people to dream big?  I think a lot of times we operate on auto-pilot.  We get so stuck in our routines and habits that we wake up a decade later and wonder "how did I get here?"  

Or perhaps you had a great plan, but like me, your life has taken some unexpected turns.  Maybe you've  experienced a divorce, a job change, a move across country, or something crazy like COVID (don't worry I've done all of those things, so I can relate!).

 It can be tough when we are recovering from a major change to keep moving towards our dreams and goals.

It's important to approach change with an attitude of acceptance, adventure and growth.  

Ask yourself how the changes you've experienced might actually help you move towards a new dream.  I'm not discounting the pain or discomfort associated with big changes or unexpected life circumstance, but I am encouraging you to look at how the change might be an opportunity for a fresh start.

If you haven't taken the time to define your dream, that's okay, you are normal!   But today I want you to stop and take some time to decide what your ideal life would like. 

No really you should do this today!  If you don't, life will happen, you'll get busy at work, the kids will need help with their homework, or you'll get distracted on Facebook and tomorrow you'll wake up in the same place you are today.  

It's time to stop and make your dreams a priority.
 

If you could pursue your passions and leverage your talents to make your life and the lives of others better, what would you be doing?

A few questions to think about:

Have I asked myself if where I am is where I want to be?
What does your dream look like?
Who do you want to share it with?
If you could do anything and money was no object what would you do?