6 Tips To Help You Live Out Your Dreams
Photo Credit: @CaughtImpressionsByQ
"Stay focused, go after your dreams and keep moving towards your goals." - LL Cool J
Have you heard the saying "easier said than done"? Some may say that's the case when it comes to successfully going after your dreams and goals. Living out your dream is to do something you wanted but did not think was possible. With the right tools, it's more practical than you think.
Here’s Something to Encourage You
I love sharing this story of my mother, who dropped out of high school when she was 16 years old to become a mother and wife. She had gotten pregnant with me in the 10th grade, and due to complications, she couldn’t attend school any longer. Growing up, I remember her acquiring skills through trade schools and taking on good jobs with her certifications as a Cosmetologist, Legal Secretary, and Certified Nursing Assistant.
College wasn’t a topic spoken of in her parent’s home. With her dad being a Pastor, building a relationship with God was a priority over education. The goal was to graduate from high school and be able to support yourself.
In my senior year of high school, my mom decided that she wanted to achieve the one thing she expected from me. With the support of her husband, she had quit her job with the United States Postal Service and enrolled in a GED program at the local community college. Her presence in class threw people off; she didn't fit in like a student. She came to class every day dressed for success as if she worked for the college. When the teacher’s aide was off, she would ask the professor if she could make copies, pass out materials, specific things that an assistant would do.
I remember her saying the Director of the Adult Education program had made a proposition with her. If she passed the GED exam on the first try, they would hire her. She did her part and passed, and they kept their word and gave her the job. At 34 years old, my mom received her GED one week before my high school graduation. She started in the department as a Teacher’s Aide, Secretary I, Secretary II, and finally, a Senior Administrator Assistant for the Director of the program for 21 years. She is still with the college today but in a different position.
Because of her success, people assumed that she had an MBA or Ph.D., which bothered her, knowing she didn’t. She came up with a plan and continued to challenge herself further by making additional strides towards her educational goals. In 2020 at 56 years old, she received her Bachelor's in Psychology. Now here we are, May 2021, at the tender age of 57, and she has received her Master's in Education!! Literally from a GED to MEd!!
Photo Credit: @CaughtImpressionsByQ
It’s a great story and a constant reminder that I am on the right path to living out my dreams of being a full-time blogger one day. And what about you? Are you currently working towards your goals? Just in case you need a little push, here are six tips to help you live out your dreams.
Seek Guidance
Not everyone has a dream that pushes them to desire more than their present self. This tip is valuable at any stage but is most significant for those in the search for goals to fulfill that personal satisfaction of growth. Guidance through prayer or meditation could reveal the correct path specifically intended for you.
Determine your WHY
For some people identifying your why or knowing your purpose comes easy because it’s the motive behind doing the things you do. And then, for others, it may take a little time to pinpoint. But your why is composed of things or people that motivate you, your values, strengths, and even your weaknesses—knowing your why is what gives you life.
Write the vision
The fact that this is a biblical principle is a bonus (Habakkuk 2:2). Writing your vision is like illustrating your very own map with clear directions to the path in which you are traveling towards your goal.
Eliminate the excuses
It’s so easy to put things on hold for a variety of reasons. Maybe you're so committed to your family and you can’t visualize fitting something else in. Or possibly you think you're too old to attempt a new skill. One of my favorite film directors and producers, Ava DuVernay, didn’t pick up a camera until she was 32 years old. Now she is one of the highest-paid African-American women in the industry. Remember, excuses deny you the opportunity to grow.
Be prepared for roadblocks
To know what to be cautious for, you have to know the many ways that it could appear. Roadblocks could be anything preventing you from achieving progress towards your goals. Money, childcare, negative people are just a few obstacles that may come. By establishing solutions to potential barriers before they occur, you can discover ways to overcome them.
Make connections
Networking is one of the most excellent tools to link you to other people who share the same interests as you. If your goal is to complete college, try meeting new study partners, or volunteer in your field of interest. If you are an aspiring blogger, connect with photographers or other bloggers in your niche. These types of interactions increase your knowledge and offer best practices to help you along the way.
Now is the time to reactivate your dreams and apply these tips to guide you.
What other suggestions would you add to this list that would benefit the dreamers? Leave your advice in the comments.
