Part Two
Last week, we began an adventure together. Our intention in the coming weeks is to explore what it takes to manifest those dreams that are so big, so far out there, you can't get your mind around them. I'm talking about the dreams that seem so impossible, you don't even DARE to dream them.
So you probably gave up on them a long time ago, didn't you? And then you told yourself:
It really didn't matter, I didn't really want this, why bother, it's too late, I've already missed it, nobody would believe in me, who do I think I am, it's just an illusion, a pipedream, a fantasy, nobody in their right mind would ever do this, I'm deluding myself, this is stupid, I'm wasting my time, I don't have what it takes, I'm too old, too young, don't know what I'm doing, don't have the money, the time, the education and if all that weren't enough... the latest, greatest reason of all? NOT IN THIS ECONOMY!!
So there you have it: 99 reasons why you haven't gone for your dreams. Yet.
I know, calm down. Who, in their right mind would go out on a limb in this economy and do something foolish and jeopardize what dwindling resources you have left? Make that 100 reasons why you haven't gone for it. Yet.
But really! I don't know what your resources look like, but I see the numbers getting smaller and smaller each month. I get the "Zestimates" from Zillow.com and start eating my stomach when I see how far the value of my home has dropped. Yikes!..... and........ So what?
All the more reason to go for it. There's not a whole lot left to lose, folks! Didn't Kris Kristofferson write a song about that?
"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose".
So welcome to freedom! Are you ready to continue? OK, let's review:
We began last week with the story of Phillippe Petit, the French wire walker, whose story was the subject of the movie Man On Wire!, which just won the Academy Award for best documentary film of 2008. If you missed the 10-minute video montage of Petit's story, you can view it here. It's required viewing for this adventure. Trust me, it'll make a believer out of you. Even you grand skeptics. OK, maybe not you. Maybe the guy next to you.
This man's impossible dream took him all the way from his original vision in 1968, when he was 17, to pulling off his dream in 1974 when he became the man who danced between the Twin Towers, to winning the Academy Award in 2009! 41 years in the making!
"Don't be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams."
I was inspired to write this series because, I find it much more empowering to have a goal that calls me forth, something to move towards rather than away from.
From where I look, it seems these times are calling us to dare to dream big dreams. We're facing big challenges, with big consequences at stake. I know, the tendency is to contract, pull in, stay safe, become a tortoise in times like these. Or not! You could go the other way! Dream Big. Why not?
Here's the thing: if what you're currently doing is working for you, keep doing it. If you're happy with the way things are, if your life is just humming along, your bank accounts are swelling and the coffers are overflowing, rock on! And let the rest of us know how you do that. But if you're like many people right now, chances are you're looking at a different reality than the one I just described. Chances are the future's not looking so bright about now, so "Why not dream big?" Most of all now!
Last week, we looked at 5 tips to help you get started. Here are 5 more. Next week, we'll circle back and start to go deeper to put some meat on these bones.
1) Take one small step every day that moves you in the direction of your dream. Lao Tzu said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The first step is usually the hardest, so start now. What single step will you take today? You don't need to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
2) Eat a banana. I know, it sounds crazy. That's the point! Acknowledge your fear, then give it a job to keep it busy and out of your way. Like eating a banana. No kidding! Concert pianists swear by them as a way to manage stage fright. The potassium serves as a beta blocker which soothes jangled nerves. Try it!
3) Hold on to your dream, be patient, and keep going. OK there's actually 3 here, but who's counting? You have no idea what the time line is for the unfolding of your dream. You may think it's supposed to happen yesterday. The dream may have other ideas. Keep going for it anyway. Phillippe Petit spent years planning his dream before the towers were even built.
4) Victory is sweet! Celebrate and share the glory. We usually don't get to our dreams alone. This may turn out to be a relay race, a team effort. Share the glory with those who empower you along the way. Petit had an entire team who supported him. Without them, he couldn't have done it. Everyone wins when one of us wins.
Who's on your "dream team"? If you're really smart, you'll enroll some key people to support you. And, there's our Impossible Dreamers group on Facebook. See link below.
5) Cultivate a grateful heart- Imagine your dream already fulfilled and give thanks ahead of time for its completion. Gratitude is the key to picking the locks that stand between you and your dreams. It focuses your energy like a laser beam. The universe rewards a grateful heart with even more abundance.
Get Started Now
So it's your turn now. Time to get started. This isn't about just talking about your dreams. This is about taking action to manifest them. I'm serious about mine, and I hope you are about yours, too. After all, in this economy, there is no place to hang out and stay safe. The lifeboats have sunk, we're all in the water together and the sharks are circling. Have you got a better idea?
In fact, I'd love to hear your ideas, thoughts and comments so check in and let us know what's going on for you. What step will you take today to move in the direction of your dreams? We're listening.
And if you haven't joined The Impossible Dreamers group on Facebook yet, go on over and get on board! This could be a little teeny life raft in these shark-infested waters. In this economy...
One Last Thing
And just to keep things in perspective, less we forget how far we've come and lose our sense of humor, I offer this wonderfully poignant, funny video of Louis CK, talking with Conan O'Brian, called Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy. Click here to watch it - and enjoy! It's OK to have fun and laugh at ourselves and our circumstances along the way. When we've lost our ability to laugh, we're really in trouble. Let's not go there!
Thanks for being here. How about leaving us a note in the comments section below so we'll know you were here? And feel free to forward this link to your buddies out there and subscribe to the RSS feed, so no matter what day this blog appears, you'll get a reminder.
Til next time, keep your powder dry and dream big!
I can be reached at judith@theraisinyears.com.