I have a Dream
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”
Both my daughters were bitten by the baking bug last year when all of us were locked down at home. Baking gave them joy. They spent time looking up recipes for cakes, biscuits and macaroons online and planned what they wanted to bake each weekend. They both decided that they want to be bakers and open their own bakery when they grow up. They also assured me that when they run their own business, they will have the flexibility of time to look after their father and I when we are old and unable to care for ourselves! We will also never be without nice smelling cakes and tasty muffins for our tea time! I love how my girls think!
One of the common themes in the topics that my clients bring into our coaching sessions is their exploration of their dreams and passions. They have been putting them off because they feel it’s not the right time in their lives to pursue them, that their dreams are frivolous - a whim and fancy. However, they can’t really shake them off and there is always this nagging feeling of “What if I followed my dreams? Where would I be now?”
What's your dream? Want to give your vision a jumpstart? Let’s start with putting some thought to these questions:
What is your highest priority in this phase of your life?
What is most important for you to experience, explore or embrace at this time? Until you answer this question, your life goals will be off purpose. Unaligned with your inner passion and values, you will feel imbalanced and unsatisfied with where your life is at right now.
Consider what makes you joyful. What activities did you enjoy as a child? What are your hobbies now? When your goals are aligned with what makes you joyful and which resonates with your core values, synchronicity will kick in to open up opportunities for you as your mind is more receptive to these opportunities.
I also often ask my clients to think about their higher purpose. What is the legacy that they want to leave behind? I believe we do not live in isolation and what we do now will have a ripple effect, be it positive or negative, to all those around us.
How do you want to be remembered?
Is this your dream, or someone else's?
My daughters came up with the idea of wanting to be bakers when they grow up. I know it’s definitely their dream without any influence from me as I am definitely not a talented baker! My youngest daughter told me the other day that she can’t picture herself as a coach and asked if I would be disappointed if she didn’t follow in my footsteps. Of course, I assured her that it’s perfectly fine not to follow the profession of her parents and to discover for herself what she is truly called to be when she is older.
Are your goals your own choice, or what others think you should strive for? Do you want to look back years later and wish you had followed your passion? Will you regret having "played it safe?"
Is it selfish to go after your own dream? What joy can you give to others if you haven't given it to yourself first?
“A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams”
- John Barrymore, American actor
Are you settling for less than?
Are you resigned to accepting less than your full share of love, health and success this lifetime? Have you compromised and sacrificed your dream? The reality is that anything short of living your true passions will never make you happy. I know it’s not easy to take that first step to pursue your dreams. It definitely wasn’t easy for me when I made that transition from being a lawyer to a life coach. What helped me stay the course is my belief of its purpose in this phase of my life. The focus of my purpose as a life coach is my compass.
What is your compass?
What will you feel like when you reach your dream?
Personal passion fuels a vision. Dive into the thrill and exhilaration of the feeling of living your dream. There is an old Hawaiian saying, "Where your creative attention is, so flows your life." Again, I know this is not easy. We all have obligations and commitments - “grown-up stuff”. We also often want to or are pressured to live up to the expectations of others. However, when I dig deep and reflect on how I impact my clients’ lives through coaching, I feel this sense of peace and fulfilment. That conviction assures me that I’m on the right track of pursuing my dreams.
What steps can you take today toward your dream?
Don't defer your dream. I’m a practical planner and I often see the pitfalls and worst-case scenarios in any situation, probably a skilled honed during my legal career. When I first started planning the setting up of my coaching business 2 years ago and gearing up for its launch last April, I had my fears and doubts. I’m grateful that I had great support from my family and friends.
So, set up your supports and systems around you to take that first step in materialising your dreams. Ask for help. I believe it is a sign of strength than weakness when we ask for help as we are aware that we can’t do it alone. Be open to every opportunity that presents itself. Explore with curiosity and just take that first step.
Are you telling yourself, "I can't have my dream?"
Most people don't believe they can live their dream. Either their belief system has them believing they can't make a living doing what they love, or they feel they don't deserve their dream. To avoid the pain of feeling they can't have their dream, people often keep their dream so buried they can't remember they ever had a dream.
I felt exactly that. The idea of starting a second career in my late 40s is scary. I have responsibilities and obligations to my family. However, when I tried to bury my dream to be a coach, the feeling of something’s missing and something’s not quite right in my life kept coming up until I couldn’t push it aside anymore.
Looking back at my journey, I realised that I would have spared myself a lot of that inner struggle if I just stepped into taking those first few steps towards my passion. Things fell into place as I followed my dream. I believe the same can happen for you.
Do you have that “something is missing or not quite right in my life” feeling now? Let me walk with you in your journey to rediscover and rekindle your dream and to make it a reality. Reach out to me here for a complimentary 30-minutes coaching call to begin your journey.
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
P.S. If you haven’t signed up to the Amplify DEI Summit, running from 27th - 29th September (I’ll speaking on the 28th!), hop on over here to get your Early Bird ticket.
You will have an amazing time learning from over 70 international speakers!
