Dream Big, Set Goals, and then Get it Done!
Do you feel like you have big dreams? Do you feel like you have big dreams that you keep on the back shelf of your mind because you just haven’t had time to get around to it?
I love to stay busy. I thrive in a little bit of chaos because I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when I knock a whole lot of stuff off of my ever-growing to-do list. Because I love to do so much, sometimes I sacrifice my own personal dreams for what I see as a need for my family, job, or those around me. I’ve been reading (ok, not really reading, more listening to an audio book because who has time to sit down and read for hours?!) a book called Overlap by Sean McCabe. It’s an interesting book (and by the way you can read it for free here) about how to turn your passion into a successful business. Even though I’m not trying to create a business, what I am really enjoying about this book is that it requires you to think about what you are passionate about, and then outlines practical steps to making your biggest dreams come true through goal setting.
It’s been so helpful to me to see habits of successful people and give the attention to my personal dreams and goals through this book so I thought I would share!
Steps to accomplishing your big dreams
1. Don’t be afraid to dream your biggest dreams.
Ok, so you dreamed big. Is that really your biggest dream? Take time and really think about what it is you want to do, accomplish, become, discover, etc. Whatever it is, don’t compromise on it. Don’t be afraid of big dreams - regardless of how long it takes. Maybe there’s a dream you don’t feel you can ever attain or accomplish, but why limit yourself before you even try? Go for the big one!
2. to be extraordinary, you can’t get caught in the mundane.
It’s easy to say you want to accomplish goals when you are charged up and energized. But eventually, the tiredness sets in, what comes naturally at first begins to take more effort, and you lose momentum. It’s in moments like this that I typically throw myself on my bed at the end of a long day and binge-watch Parks and Rec while scrolling through my phone until I pass out at 9:15. A day or two of skipping out on working towards a goal rolls into weeks or months, until eventually that goal slips into oblivion and you’re no better for it. Extraordinary people don’t do what everyone else does - they commit and work hard and do whatever it takes to accomplish the goal. A lot of times that requires sacrifice and intentionality.
3. Outline the steps it will take to reach your goal.
When it comes to big goals, it can be overwhelming to try to tackle it all in one big piece. It’s helpful to break it down into smaller, bite-size, and actionable steps that you can accomplish. The greatest thing about breaking it down into smaller steps, is that it is much easier to accomplish items this way, and the feeling of making progress will bring more energy and momentum to continue working towards your goal. Once you have a list of steps to take, even if they don’t all end up working, it will help you with the next step which is:
4. Incorporate goals into your calendar.
Put your action items into your calendar. Set up daily or weekly times where you dedicate focused time on whatever dream or goal you have. Use that time to work on the steps, and set deadlines for yourself to accomplish those steps. Deadlines help you keep track of your time better so you don’t get sidetracked or stuck on one step.
5. Surround yourself with encouragers!
This last step is probably one of the most important ones. Surround yourself with people who will not only provide accountability, but also believe in you, champion you, and cheer you on. Encouragement is necessary - because let’s face it, if no one really cares about your dream, what happens when you hit a roadblock? You’ll probably give up. But, if you find people who will walk with you, they won’t let you quit. Be careful to avoid negative influences. If you constantly find yourself around people who doubt your ability or criticize your dreams, it’s worth evaluating whether you need to find a new environment or a new group of friends. It’s already hard enough to pursue your dreams and goals, so don’t make it worse by tolerating negative energy. Find the right people who will charge you up and bring more energy to the table when you feel low.
Whatever dreams you have, you have what it takes.
God put you on this earth for a reason. There’s a passion inside of you that comes from HIM, and it’s good. It might be really big, it might be a little overwhelming, and it might seem strange - but don’t give up on those dreams, go after them! I hope that reading this reminds you of some dreams you have, and that it helps you bring them back to life. I really encourage you to revisit them, because passions are designed to bring life to us.
If you are ready to work on a goal, I found this awesome workbook that does a lot of step-by-step planning and makes it easier to accomplish. It’s called You Goal, Girl and you can find it here.
Go after it, friends!