At this time of the year, I always reflect on the past 12 months and look for nuggets or takeaways to help me with my personal growth.
This year has been a big one for me, and many major shifts have occurred. For one, I finally had a breakthrough in my personal and professional life. I never believed I would come to this stage because my transformative years lasted forever! But here I am: Thriving. Vibrant. Learning how to dream big.
I truly believe that the key ingredient to dreaming big is to whole-heartedly believe in yourself.
One dream I’ve always had is to own a beach house. Pure bliss for me is being near the ocean and the sand, in the warmth of the sun around abundant fresh food, and dressed in the simplest of attire. All these things make me feel alive and energetic.
If you had asked me 10 years ago if I believed my beach house dream could ever become a reality, I would have laughed.
But, today, I am saying, “Hell, yes!” I truly believe anything is possible. And to show you how much I believe in dreaming big, I am taking this moment to declare my dream of owning a beach house aloud!
There. I said it.
Sometimes it’s scary to dream, even about the simple things in life. Another big dream I have (one that’s on my bucket list) is to one day be able to take my three boys to India to visit the slums.
I dream about interacting and connecting with the children in the slums. I want my children to learn from these kids, to be grateful for all they have, and to give back. It’s not such a far-fetched dream, is it?
Yet, I fear what my parents are going to say or what my friends are going to say? I can hear them now:
- “Are you crazy?”
- “Isn’t it dangerous?”
- “You could catch a disease.”
- “How can you expose your kids to the poverty?”
So many excuses. Rather than getting caught up in reasons why I shouldn’t go, I am choosing a different perspective. Like everyone else, sometimes I forget who calls the shots. I have to remind myself that I am the captain of my ship. I bet you have to do that, too.
It’s so easy to call it quits when our big dreams are interrupted by worried, but well-intentioned friends and relatives, or by glitches that happen for no apparent reason. We lose hope. We give up. We think we were crazy for dreaming big in the first place.
But, rather than seeing what’s NOT working, take these moments to acknowledge your own strength, your deepest desires, your hurts, and your life’s purpose. Stand eye-to-eye with your weakest self.
The worries of others and roadblocks that come up are reminders that something here requires work. So seize these moments as opportunities for growth and propulsion. Really work with them to make them work for you!
As the year comes to an end, I have been digging deep, exploring my values, setting intentions, and shaping 2015. I know I want the coming year to be full of travels, retreats, speaking engagements, rich content, quality time with family and friends, creativity, singing lessons, home projects, and always some me time. All very simple.
In a word, I want 2015 to be INSPIRING.
What big plans do you have for 2015? What intentions are you setting today to support your dreams? What is your word for the coming year?
Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season from my house to yours.
