1. Get Clear. Whose dream are you chasing? Is it really yours? Or something your mother/father/society expects of you? Understand that whatever dream you’re chasing is actually a desire to feel a certain way. How do you want to feel? An excellent tool to discover and embody these feelings is The Desire Map. Once you’re clear on how you want to feel, you’ll be best poised to pursue the dreams that truly matter.
2. Start Before You’re Ready. Just begin. Perfectionism is on a continuum with procrastination. It’s much more important to have forward motion of any kind over waiting until all the pieces are lined up. Because, guess what? They’re never gonna line up. There will always be something that isn’t quite right, some bit that you don’t know how to do, some other task that’s competing for your attention (the dishes! The kids want dinner! Facebook!!) But your mantra is: “I’ll figure it out.”
3. Relax & Focus. Remember that on your deathbed, you won’t wish you had really spent more time working and less time being creative. At the same time, it’s helpful to know that in a thousand years it likely won’t matter, so there’s no need to take it all so seriously. Chronic stress — whether from a job, a relationship, or the inner critic that just won’t let you be — must be addressed. Commit to just 15 minutes per day of uninterrupted space to work on your dream.
4. Disappoint Some People. As most of us are busy people who tend to multitask, so finding the time to devote to a new project will almost always mean having to say no to other people’s agendas a lot more often. This can be very challenging, but it becomes easier with practice. My coach says one sign of success is saying no to cooler and cooler stuff. Haha! Remember that saying “no” to other people is really saying a much bigger “YES” to your dream.
5. Connect to Others. We live in the golden age of the Internet, and it’s easier than ever before to surround yourself with mentors, experts, and a tribe of people who are all blazing the same type of path as you. Seek out relationships on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Have conversations. Ask questions. Offer support. Collaborate with people. But do it choicefully. Allies can also be plants, animals, natural objects, tools and the Earth itself. Pay no mind to critics, and solicit feedback only from those who are in your arena, as Brene Brown has famously recommended. Read books. Immerse yourself in gratitude for all the tools and advantages we have that support the opportunity to make your dream a reality.
Rachael Rice is a writer, teacher, musician, and online art marketing maven. She’s devoted most of her life to teaching others how to move through fear and confusion into creative expression.
Website: www.rachaelrice.com
Facebook: Rachael Rice Productions
Twitter: @Rachael_Rice
Instagram: @RachaelRice
