Let Your Dreams Be Your Guide
January 2, 2010
Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.
~ John Updike
Traditionally January is a month for resolutions, but let us for once set that aside and consider instead dreams. Rather than deciding to make vast changes in our lives at this time of year, let us instead consider what it is we want.
In the past month I have had a number of conversations with friends (and even one stranger) in which dreams became the main theme. Sometimes I didn’t even realize that, because the actual word ‘dream’ might not have shown up, but on further reflection, it became clear this was the true subject.
So, what is your dream? It’s okay if you’re quite clear on it, but it is NOT okay if your answer is you don’t have one.
If you don’t have one, then we need to talk. Well, in fact, if you don’t have a dream, then you need to sit down and have a little chat with yourself. Surely there is something you want to do. It doesn’t have to be a grand dream – even a little one will do. Even if you’re happy, and you love your job, and your spouse fulfills every one of your needs and wants, there is something you’ve always wanted to do that you haven’t.
This month, take stock. Promise yourself you will do one thing you’ve meant to do at some point in your life that you've yet to do. It may be taking a drawing class, or baking a cheesecake, or starting a novel. Notice that some of those examples are big, and some of them are small.
If they’re small, then get going. You’re on the computer, so look up a recipe – google ‘cheesecake’ and see what it entails. Next, put the ingredients on your list, or if you’re in a really spontaneous mood, get thee to a grocery store posthaste and buy some cream cheese and whatever else you need to make your cheesecake and get it done. By all means, give yourself a deadline. That is up to you, but make it reasonable. Small goals, I’d give yourself a week.
Bigger goals? Well, first, consider what they are, what your intention is and what your realistic resources are. Want to take an art class? Great! Will this be at the local community college, art museum, or parks & recreation program? What are your options and how do those mesh with your schedule, your realistic level of time commitment, and your financial resources? Perhaps money is tight. If so, maybe the best thing to do is to check a book out of the library and start there. Remember, this is about expanding our horizons, not about feeling resentful for all the things we may not have.
Taking the first step, with excitement, gratitude and intention, often leads us to whatever it is we need to keep moving.
If the goal is a huge one – say, writing a book – then break it down a little. If you’re ready to just get started, then do so. Just start writing. Set a daily goal you know you can reach. Remember, deciding to write 1,000 words a day may sound great, but if it becomes yet another burden, you’ll find yourself disappointed and annoyed with yourself. Better to say you’ll write 100 words a day and actually write them – by the end of the year, you’ll still be nearly halfway finished with a novel, and that’s if you never write one extra word!
If you feel you need a little help, then figure out what it is you need to know to get started. It may sound trite, but check out or buy a good overview ‘how-to’ – Writing a Novel for Dummies, or some such thing. Just keep your goal in mind, and give yourself a deadline by which to get started. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to learn what you need, and then start writing. Two weeks? Believe me (I’m a writer), nothing will teach you what you need to know better than sitting down and trying to do it.
If you truly don’t know where to start, and you are stuck as to what it is you want to do – with your life, or your creativity, or your free time – then I wholeheartedly suggest getting a journal, and asking yourself some serious questions.
More on that tomorrow. : )
Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.
~ John Updike
Traditionally January is a month for resolutions, but let us for once set that aside and consider instead dreams. Rather than deciding to make vast changes in our lives at this time of year, let us instead consider what it is we want.
In the past month I have had a number of conversations with friends (and even one stranger) in which dreams became the main theme. Sometimes I didn’t even realize that, because the actual word ‘dream’ might not have shown up, but on further reflection, it became clear this was the true subject.
So, what is your dream? It’s okay if you’re quite clear on it, but it is NOT okay if your answer is you don’t have one.
If you don’t have one, then we need to talk. Well, in fact, if you don’t have a dream, then you need to sit down and have a little chat with yourself. Surely there is something you want to do. It doesn’t have to be a grand dream – even a little one will do. Even if you’re happy, and you love your job, and your spouse fulfills every one of your needs and wants, there is something you’ve always wanted to do that you haven’t.
This month, take stock. Promise yourself you will do one thing you’ve meant to do at some point in your life that you've yet to do. It may be taking a drawing class, or baking a cheesecake, or starting a novel. Notice that some of those examples are big, and some of them are small.
If they’re small, then get going. You’re on the computer, so look up a recipe – google ‘cheesecake’ and see what it entails. Next, put the ingredients on your list, or if you’re in a really spontaneous mood, get thee to a grocery store posthaste and buy some cream cheese and whatever else you need to make your cheesecake and get it done. By all means, give yourself a deadline. That is up to you, but make it reasonable. Small goals, I’d give yourself a week.
Bigger goals? Well, first, consider what they are, what your intention is and what your realistic resources are. Want to take an art class? Great! Will this be at the local community college, art museum, or parks & recreation program? What are your options and how do those mesh with your schedule, your realistic level of time commitment, and your financial resources? Perhaps money is tight. If so, maybe the best thing to do is to check a book out of the library and start there. Remember, this is about expanding our horizons, not about feeling resentful for all the things we may not have.
Taking the first step, with excitement, gratitude and intention, often leads us to whatever it is we need to keep moving.
If the goal is a huge one – say, writing a book – then break it down a little. If you’re ready to just get started, then do so. Just start writing. Set a daily goal you know you can reach. Remember, deciding to write 1,000 words a day may sound great, but if it becomes yet another burden, you’ll find yourself disappointed and annoyed with yourself. Better to say you’ll write 100 words a day and actually write them – by the end of the year, you’ll still be nearly halfway finished with a novel, and that’s if you never write one extra word!
If you feel you need a little help, then figure out what it is you need to know to get started. It may sound trite, but check out or buy a good overview ‘how-to’ – Writing a Novel for Dummies, or some such thing. Just keep your goal in mind, and give yourself a deadline by which to get started. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to learn what you need, and then start writing. Two weeks? Believe me (I’m a writer), nothing will teach you what you need to know better than sitting down and trying to do it.
If you truly don’t know where to start, and you are stuck as to what it is you want to do – with your life, or your creativity, or your free time – then I wholeheartedly suggest getting a journal, and asking yourself some serious questions.
More on that tomorrow. : )
posted by bobbi at 11:23 PM
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