Can You Live Your Dream Life? 

I was doing some back-to-school shopping the other day with the kiddos, and something caught my attention that I wanted to share. 

There are so many journals and diaries with inspirational quotes, they say things like “dream big” or “live your best life” – the kind of YOLO stuff we all recognize. 

Now, I generally agree with the quotes, but the next day, I noticed a wagon filled with school supplies at a daycare, and one of the teacher’s journals said right on the front, “Live Your Dream.” These things always catch my eye, and I feel like I want to take a picture to post them. Inspire some people in the process. 

But this particular time it got me wondering: How much do people think about the message on the cover versus just flipping it open and using it as a pile of paper?

What Quotes Do You Live By? 

I imagine that when people are selecting journals, they probably pick one that resonates with them or aligns with something they feel. Maybe if they’re shopping online, they even search for a journal with a specific phrase on the front. 

But how many people actually live by the words on the journal?

For example, if a journal says “Own Your Dreams,” do you think one in two people who buy that journal really own their big dreams? Or is it more like one in ten, maybe even one in a hundred? I don’t know, but I think most of us can relate to owning at least one of these journals and wondering how often we live up to the big ideas written on them.

I know I think about it often because I have a few such journals with inspirational quotes, and sometimes I feel like I’m not living up to those ideals. Other times, I think I’m doing a pretty good job.

Sell Yourself On The Dream, Not The How

I really try to create practical ways to live out my dreams, even though it’s tough. I recently talked about this with Maya Marcia Weider, who built her career teaching people how to own their dreams. She’s been successful with books, workshops, and courses, even ended up on Oprah’s couch teaching people to dream big. 

She reminded me that while figuring out your big dream is difficult, the hardest part isn’t how to achieve it. It’s letting go of how it happens. She told me specifically to keep going with my podcast but also to promise that I won’t worry about how it all works out.

Go Easy On Yourself

If you’re like me, or how I used to be, you might feel some regret when looking at those inspirational quotes. 

You might not want to dwell on them because you’re not sure if you’re living your dream life yet. But maybe you’re confident you want to – you just don’t know what that life looks like or how to own it. It’s easy to feel like you’re behind or stuck. 

The best way to handle this is by balancing pride in how far you’ve come with a focus on your future self.

You need to hold onto that vision like a crystal ball you’re working towards, without getting lost in it. One of my heroes calls this “keeping the moon in the window” as you move toward your dreams. Even though you might get off course or have to make adjustments along the way, you keep pushing forward.

Ditch The Regret, Learn And Move On

One of the biggest obstacles we face is holding onto regret. 

Whether it’s regret over past experiences or missed opportunities, it can hold us back. I love the song “Move On” by Mike Posner because it perfectly captures this sentiment. Sometimes, you just need to move on. 

We can learn from our past, but we shouldn’t let it distract us from our current goals. Hanging onto regrets can be like quicksand, pulling us down instead of letting us move forward.

One challenge I find with discussions like these is that they often lead to a focus on productivity. (Which isn’t always the point). 

What Gives You True Meaning?

Having worked in mental health for most of my adult life, I’ve come to believe that the most important thing is finding meaning and living with vitality. Fun and productivity are both important, but they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It’s okay to slow down and appreciate how far you’ve come, instead of always feeling like you need to do more.

If you ever feel like you’re stuck or not making enough progress, one helpful exercise is to look back at where you were a year ago, or even five years ago. You’ll almost always find that you’ve made significant progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. 

Sometimes we’re too close to our own journey to see the growth, so it can be powerful to ask someone else to help you recognize how far you’ve come. And if I can help with that, feel free to reach out.

Another thing that holds people back is being out of alignment with what they truly want. It’s hard to celebrate progress when you’re not passionate about what you’re working on. 

That’s why it’s important to realign with your current passion, purpose, or interests and choose a new direction if needed. You might find yourself feeling stuck again down the road, but when you look back, you’ll see how far you’ve come.

Decide On Your Next Steps

Finally, it helps to get clear on your strengths, weaknesses, and the direction you’re headed. 

I laugh when I think back to my college football days, where we had a report card system that ranked us on our skills. It was meant to give us feedback, which is proven to be one of the most important factors in learning. 

If you want to grow, feedback is essential. For me, in my podcasting journey, I know I need to improve my storytelling and marketing strategies. I also know that looking back at how far I’ve come helps me realize that I’m making progress, even when it feels slow.

By taking a step back and reflecting on your journey, you’ll see that you’ve come much further than you think. The key is to keep moving forward, even when it feels like you’re stuck.

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