3 Ways to Turn Your Dreams into a Reality (Actually)
I don’t know about you guys, but being in quarantine has me doing a lot of self-reflection. It feels as though I am being personally confronted by all of the things I’ve been avoiding because I’ve been “too busy” to tend to them. The last 5 weeks have been eye-opening and, dare I say, transformational. It’s easier to see things for what they actually are, as opposed to what you want them to be. It’s easy because, for the first time in a long time, we are experiencing a collective stillness. There’s nowhere to go but here.
So, with that in mind, how can you truly glean the most from this novel experience we have all found ourselves in? Are there specific goals you want to achieve but struggle with the follow-through?
Maybe you want to… Start that blog?
Build that garden?
Run that race?
Whether you think you can, or you can’t, you’re right.
When I think about my own never-ending journey of self-development, a few important tips come to mind. These are the things that have helped me turn my dreams into reality. I hope they will help you, too.
DON’T SHUT UP ABOUT IT
Talking about your dreams literally makes them real. I challenge you to share your journey on social media. Invite others to walk with you on your path to growth and self-development. If you want to build that garden or run that race, give people a glimpse into the work that goes into each of those things. Show them what it takes to achieve the goal you’ve set for yourself.
One of the reasons I believe I’ve had so much success with my business this year is because I’ve documented the entire thing for everyone to see. It has added this extra layer of accountability for me. It’s like, “I don’t want to fail when I know that I have an audience watching.”
This practice has also helped me to build my personal brand! It motivates me to create content and check-in with my followers and email subscribers, just as I would with a close friend. Not only does this benefit you, it benefits your audience. It has the opportunity to inspire, encourage, and motivate others to achieve their own personal goals, too.
ASK FOR FEEDBACK
Want to know a secret? I am obsessed with feedback. Tell me *all* the things I am doing wrong. I want to know where I can improve and how I can get that much better. Now, don’t get me wrong, sometimes it is hard to swallow. Although I’ve realized I need an outside (objective) opinion in order to keep improving. Pro Tip: surround yourself with people who are *qualified* to give you good feedback so you’ll be more inclined to take it.
I have a great group of people in my life who I consider my “advisors.” I go to these people when I need to make tough decisions, work through tough curriculum, and need feedback on my performance, products, or services. It’s important for me to understand if there are holes, and if there are, formulate a solution to fill them.
Feedback is how we improve. It’s how we go from good to great. So don’t be afraid to ask for it when it’s from the right people.
IT’S 10X HARDER THAN YOU THINK IT WILL BE
Each time I reach a new milestone in my business, I always think to myself, “Damn, that was so much harder than I thought it would be.” At this point, everything is hard basically all the time lol. However, that’s how I know I am growing—WHEN THINGS ARE HARD!
Play the long game. It’s going to take you 10x longer than you think to write that blog post, design your website, and build your personal brand. With that in mind, do it anyway. Get used to that exasperating feeling of being uncomfortable, and give yourself more time and grace than you think you’ll need. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself for it.
I am living proof that you can live a life that you’ve always imagined for yourself.
Remember, don’t shut up about your dreams, ask for feedback constantly, and expect that everything will be 10x harder than you think it will be!
You. Can. Do. This.
