If you’re reading this it’s because you want to follow your heart’s dreams.
There’s a stirring inside you – a call for something more, a desire to reach your full potential and live as the authentic, awesome you.
But something’s holding you back, right?
Maybe you can’t quite pinpoint your heart’s desires, or fear has trapped you in a cage. That’s okay! All of us are simply human, and chasing our dreams is big, scary stuff. Doing so takes bravery, grit, and a willingness to take a risk on something that might not work out.
But following your dreams – even in spite of the risks – is a worthy, beautiful journey – one that leads to personal fulfillment, self-confidence, and inner peace.
If that sounds like a worthwhile pursuit, then let me show you how to move from dreaming to doing.
Why Dreams Are Important in Life
“Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you.”
Marsha Norman
The human imagination is a beautiful, mysterious thing that can literally transform the world. If you look around you, almost everything you interact with started out as somebody’s bold dream.
SoulSalt was my dream, the phone or laptop you’re reading on was someone else’s, and the lightbulb was Thomas Edison’s! Everything in our world is built on the actions of people who dared to chase their dreams.
And in spite of this fact, many of us hesitate to move toward our fullest potential. We make excuses, play it safe, and doubt ourselves and our abilities. It feels safe to kick the can down the road in the short term, but this actually hurts us in the long run.
Research from The New School found that people are far more likely to regret what they could’ve done but didn’t rather than what they did wrong.
Make Mistakes, Don’t Miss Opportunities
Research from The New School found that people are far more likely to regret what they could’ve done but didn’t rather than what they did wrong.
This finding illustrates something your soul probably already knows to be true – chasing your dreams is worth the risk.
In fact, it’s the secret to a life well lived.
After all, each one of us has unique personal needs that need nurturing for happiness and contentment. Chasing our dreams is one of the ways we can get in touch with our deepest values, empowering us to create a life that we truly want and enjoy.
How to Follow Your Dreams: 5 Effective Ways to Become a Dream Chaser
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there”
Theodore Roosevelt
For most of us, dreaming up ideas is easy – but actually putting those ideas into action is the tricky part.
For decades, I’ve studied the science of achieving dreams – what holds us back and what helps us take action. I’ve developed a reliable playbook of strategies for discovering your most meaningful dreams and finding the courage to go after them.
These tips will help you uncover what motivates you, define your dreams, and plot a roadmap to get you there.
1. Identify the Salt of Your Soul
Sometimes, our dreams don’t manifest as a clear vision. Instead, they show up as a feeling that something is missing, even though you’re not quite sure what that something is. If that sounds like you, try this exercise.
Take a pen and paper and sit somewhere cozy and quiet for five minutes. Write freely about your heart’s dreams – the salt of your soul – without judgment.
Don’t hold back! Write whatever comes to mind and see what spills out on the page. At the end of the exercise, you’ll probably have uncovered some deep-seated aspirations you’ve forgotten about over time.
If you found that exercise a little tough, try answering these questions to kickstart your dream exploration:
- If you could do anything in the world without worrying about money, what would that be?
- What adventures and activities do you enjoy, and why?
- When you envision your best self, what does a typical day look like for them?
- What ignites your curiosity?
2. Transform Your Dream Into a Goal
A wish is just a wish unless you do the work. So, once you’ve set your heart on your dream, it’s time to create a plan to move from vision to reality.
How? Through concrete goal-setting.
Setting a goal is much more than just saying, for example, “I’m going to quit my job and start a business.” While that’s a worthy goal, it’s way too big to tackle.
To set yourself up for success, break your goal down into small, digestible chunks with start and end dates. Not only will this make chasing your dreams more manageable, but it also has neuroscience-backed benefits!
Small Victories Move Us Forward
Research shows that our brains release motivational chemicals – most importantly dopamine – every time we successfully complete a task.
By creating several smaller goals, you can effectively convince your brain and soul to move on to each successive task and boost internal motivation.
In this case of quitting your job to start a business, you might break down that mammoth task into the following small, achievable steps:
- Research one competitor each day for a week
- Write down 10 business name ideas
- Make a list of resources available to you (savings, contacts, knowledge, skills)
- Reach out to a potential mentor for coffee
- Put together a study of your target market by the end of the month
3. Find Your Tribe
As the saying goes, no person is an island. When you start following your dreams, you’re going to want to nurture a network of supportive people who have your back.
In fact, studies show that sharing your goals with a loved one improves your chances of succeeding.
But be careful about who you share your goals with. Choose friends and family who genuinely care about your happiness and want to see you succeed. As well as reaching out to those closest to you, you could also look at expanding your professional circle.
There are a wealth of people out there just like you who are starting the noble journey of chasing their dreams. Sharing your struggles and successes with each other is a wonderful way to fuel your drive and move toward your most authentic self.
4. Be Fierce About Failure
Here’s the thing – you don’t get stronger by only fighting battles you know you’re going to win.
When you start chasing your dreams, you will run into obstacles.
Chasings Dreams Means Overcoming Failure
These ‘failures’ are really just stepping stones to success, so stay true to yourself and don’t get disheartened. No one ever achieved anything great on the first try – it was built on the backs of a thousand invisible failures.
If you do suffer a setback, it can be helpful to read the stories of people who have successfully trodden the brave path you’re taking. Any successful entrepreneur, executive, or creative will undoubtedly have stories of the hard work and blunders they experienced on the road to where they are now.
The difference between them and other people? They cultivated grit and resilience. They believed in themselves. They didn’t give up. They kept on trying.
That’s not to say they didn’t feel down when they encountered a roadblock. Feeling your feelings is healthy and normal – and something I very much advocate!
But disappointment should be combined with self-compassion and self-love. Believe that things will work out for you and that you’re worthy of an extraordinary life.
5. Recalibrate Old Thought Patterns
Stepping outside of our comfort zones can bring up a lot of insecurities and fears. As you begin moving towards your higher self, you may experience old thought patterns in your head, telling lies about what you can’t do or who you’ll never be.
These self-limiting beliefs are unhelpful and, more importantly, untrue.
Our thoughts are incredibly powerful. What you believe, you become. This is why it’s so important to silence mean, unhelpful thoughts and cultivate a new mental soundtrack. Your internal monologue should be like a cheerleader, empowering you to step into your best, most gracious self.
Unhealthy Habits That Could Derail Your Dreams
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
Don’t Give Up!
According to the University of Scranton, an astounding 92% of people give up on their goals.
Isn’t that crazy? So many of us out there have dreams that never become a reality.
While that statistic might be slightly overwhelming to think about, it’s also something you can overcome.
But becoming one of the 8% who successfully achieves their dreams isn’t about making herculean life shifts, it’s about cultivating small daily habits and, more importantly, unlearning bad habits that are holding you back.
Here are some of the unhealthy habits to beware of that could sabotage your dreams.
1. Giving up When the Going Gets Tough
Building the life of your dreams is going to take some hard work. It can mean working late nights, facing criticism, and making difficult choices. At times, you’ll feel like throwing the towel in and sinking back into the comfort of risk-averse normality.
Here’s the secret, though. When you feel like giving up, remind yourself not to forfeit what you want in the future just because the current task feels undesirable.
Sacrifice means doing something difficult for future gain. By working hard now, you’ll see exponential returns in the future.
So keep the future You in your mind and act each day in a way that will make them proud. You’ll thank yourself for it!
2. Listening to Dream Snatchers
When you start pursuing an extraordinary life, not all of the people around you are abundant in support, love, and care.
Stay the Course!
Sometimes, when people see someone in their life expanding their potential, it dredges up their own insecurities and fears.
This causes them to act not with support, but with criticism, snarky remarks, and unkind comments.
Of course, not every person who criticizes does so out of malice. Some may be inherently risk-averse and genuinely concerned about you leaping into the unknown because it’s something they would never do.
Whether opinions are well-intentioned or not, they can get you down. External negativity can stir all sorts of doubts and fear in our minds.
When you experience criticism, it’s wise to take it with a pinch of salt. Consider what the other person is saying and assess whether there’s any genuinely valuable wisdom in their words that can help you.
If there is, take it on board – but ignore any unkind or unhelpful remarks. After all, you need to listen to your heart. Any other path is someone else’s dream.
3. Neglecting Self-Care
We live in a hustle culture that can be damaging to mental health. The undue emphasis on productivity, sacrifice, and success can quickly lead to burnout and anxiety – something that 77% of us experienced in 2022, according to Deloitte.
When we’re overwhelmed, we’re more likely to lose heart and forego our dreams. So, resist the urge to fall into the trap of thinking you must chase your dreams every second of the day.
Rest and play are just as crucial to attaining your goals as doing the work is. Things like sleep, laughing with your partner, and eating healthy, balanced meals are super important.
In fact, one study found that sleep directly and immediately impacts the quality of life, so be mindful of pushing yourself beyond your limits.
As important as hard work is, so is taking time to care for yourself. When you feel yourself coming close to your limit, take a moment to breathe, reassess and give yourself time to rest.
Ready to Embark on the Path Towards Fulfillment?
Your dreams are within your reach – all you need now is the courage to try and the resilience to persevere.
Want a little help with turning your dreams into reality?
I’ve created a field guide for discovering your heart’s dreams and going after them – it’s designed to help you navigate with purpose toward a fulfilling life.
