Dream Big. Power Your Passion. Make "It" Happen. You may ask - what is "It"? Are you living the life of your dreams, happily and in tune with your values? If so, great. You know what "It" is! Some of us never get there. And there's nothing wrong with that. It just means that it is time to rock the boat to figure out what really makes you happy, so that you can go get "It".
Ask any of my family or friends and they will tell you that I can never sit still. I move every few years. East coast. West Coast. In between. I change my direction. Not just where I live, but my whole life. I changed jobs every few years. I get bored easily. Since I joined the self-employed, I started 11 dud websites before I managed to channel myself. I don't need 11 websites to cover my passion ..... Three or four will do it! Less is often better because you can more easily channel your time and thoughts.
Whenever I move, my family is very interested in what furniture I buy. It is the standing joke that it may be theirs in a few years - or less. A few weeks before I settled on my current home, my brother asked if I'm ready to put it up for sale.
I aspire for something deeper and more meaningful. I suspect that many others do too. There is nothing wrong with that. Life is about creating a place for yourself that is aligned with your values. Rock the boat until you get there. And if you are there, make the most of it.
Think about what you value and set goals around those values. Don't let roadblocks deter you. Here is an example from my own life. I aspire to sun and "Life by the Sea", but I value family, and my family doesn't live by the water. I thought I solved it all and moved to sunny Florida, but that meant no family connection. So now I am back building snowmen.
My goal now is to build a bridge between values and goals. I could move to the ocean nearby, two hours from family and commit to making the drive to see them. Or, I could aspire to making the time and cost of travel between Florida and my family up north irrelevant. Still deciding, and here are the questions I am pondering.
We're all pelted with problems. Honestly it shouldn't even bother or hinder us from becoming all we ought to be. Our hopes, dreams and aspirations as children should continue to live within us for as long as we hold on to the dream.
What do YOU want out of life? Ask yourself the questions below and really think about the answer. Don't think about what other people want - unless the other person is someone you are sharing life with! Think about YOU, YOU and YOU!
1. What do I really want?
The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day.
Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.
2. What do I value?
What is so ingrained in your being, that it is intrinsic to your very being? Spirituality? Sense of community? High Income? Wealth? Power? Security? Inner Harmony? Constant debate? This list goes on an on.
3. Should I really change?
Why do you want what you want? Why do you value what you value? Think about why you want to redefine yourself? Is it core to your being, or are you trying to please someone else? Don't say you value something just because your loved ones value it. Possibly your parents raised you on the value of raising a family countryside, but you may value the freedom to travel the world. We all (or at least many of us) want the approval of those we love. We want the thumbs up! But, we will never be happy if we say that our values are the same and set goals accordingly to get that "way to go" sticker. No wonder many people cringe at the mere mention of the words: values and goals.
4. What's the bright side in all of this?
With so much happening around us there seems to be no room to even consider that light at the end of the tunnel. Never give up on light. In the words of Jewel, "for light does the darkness most fear". What do you want out of life? Dream big and make it happen.
The glass is half full, my friend! Don't be the critic of your positive thoughts. If there's a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!
5. Am I comfortable with what I'm doing?
There's always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what path to take in life. It can be as complex as a career path, or as simple as which shoes go with or purse or outfit. Create your own style in life.. You are unique.
Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to ponder. Don't be afraid to look a bit beyond your current life, even if content. Reach for the stars!
6. Have I done enough for myself?
Have you? Or, is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you'll be able to see and do stuff you never imagined possible.
7. Am I happy with where I am today?
It's an unfair question so let it be an answer! Take what you love, and bring it up a notch. Continuously raise the bar. If you love the beach, don't just think about it... Go! Do you value family time with your children? Make it happen. Continuously create new traditions and different ways to have fun.
Think to the future, but build memories along the way. Think forward, but enjoy the present and create memorable footprints, before the present becomes he past. Live life relentlessly!
8. How much could I have?
There is no such thing as having too much or too little. It's about enjoying the journey, dreaming big and doing your part along the way to make life better for others. Seek to continually improve, setting goals aligned with your values and passion.
Stet some Smart Goals.
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Let me tell you right up front that I do not believe in "A" for Achievable. I'm not a fan of "T" for time-bound either. And, while we're at it, let's toss "M" for measurable.
S (Specific) and R (Relevant) can get you where you want to go - as long as you have a dream and a plan of action. I don't think specific needs much of an explanation. Saying you want to live in peace may sound good, but what does that mean. What will life look like when you achieve it? Relevant just means that it has to be something you really want that is aligned with your values.
However, just because something doesn't seem achievable now, doesn't mean that it can't be without a bunch of baby steps. If it is something really big and overwhelming, it is OK not to give yourself a time constraint. A few words on your goal sheet will etch it deeper into your mind each time you read it. And just because you can't measure it, doesn't mean you can't go after it.
Many people turn away from goal setting due to the rigidity created by people who want to come up with some fancy acronym and process. The act of thinking through what you really want, writing it down (or drawing or graphing it!) in your own style, deciding where to start and listing out the steps that you need to take, in simple terms, is really all you need to do.
Don't limit yourself! Dream big! Aim high! These aren't just buzz words.
Some people may disagree with me, but I stand firm in my belief. No matter how broke you are today financially, spiritually or mentally, you can turn yourself around. It wont happen overnight. Maybe not the next few years. Maybe not even in a ten-year horizon. But, if you dream it, you can have it - eventually - with plans. Concrete plans. Along with a dose of big dreams and commitment to YOU.
Don't let other people tell you what your dreams should be! A common example relates to money. People may tell you that you are greedy if you focus your goals on money. I say bull-xxxx. You can do a lot more good for others with money than without. And there is nothing wrong with enjoying the life you were put on earth to live. Are the people who tell you money is not important going to be there to help out when you have no place to live? And do you want to be the person helping, or the one in need of help? Take care of yourself first. Enough said!
9. What motivates me?
What motivates you? It's an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that make different people happy. Discovering what motivates you may be the hardest part. It's not like you can't have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that's it. Just try it piece by piece.
10. What Really Makes You Tick?
So? What really makes you tick? You can be anything you always wanted to be, but realize that attaining anything of true value is hard work and takes time. Enjoy the journey. Feel free to take a road trip to explore, but never quit. Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical or philosophical change you have to undergo, but it's something that will take you one step closer to finding the meaning in YOUR life.
Paint your picture!
Kate & Crew
