How To Create Crystal Clear Clarity Of Your Big Dream 

I am a huge believer in big dreams. One of my favorite books, by Bob Goff is literally called Dream Big. And I think that is the exact, perfect terminology that we need to use in every single school right now.

We need big dreams. We need to create them. And we need to pursue them.
But, I also understand that without our habits and next steps, a dream remains stuck in our minds.

I was watching the Arnold documentary the other day and talking about goal setting, Schwarzenegger said, “Without a vision, who cares about the dream?”

Now this comes from one of the biggest dreamers in the history of mankind. So what is going on here?

It’s simple really. In order to achieve our dreams, we need to have clarity. We need a crystal clear vision of what it looks like so we can develop the right strategies over time.

Dream First, Vision Second, Goals Third

Nothing pisses a teenager off more than having a teacher, or parent come at them with yet another goal-setting exercise. And to me, I completely agree. While I don’t think a 16-year-old can articulate why they hate goal setting, at least they are right in hating it.

Strategy and goals are important, eventually.
Let’s call that the “how to achieve your dream.”

The “how” will be important, eventually. 

But, at first, much like Arnold explains in the documentary, you have to be able to paint the picture in your mind first. Don’t let the dream be fuzzy, or blurry at all. Get super clear on exactly what you want.

Kind of like Connor McGregor talked about when he said, “If you can see it, and have the courage enough to speak it, it will happen.”

So, the question becomes, can you see it?

Do You Have A Clear Dream?

There is an incredible clarity test in the John Maxwell book, “Put Your Dream To The Test” and the questions are: 

• Can you explain the dream in one sentence?
• Can you answer any question about “what” the dream is?
• Have you spent many hours defining this dream in detail?
• Have you written a clear description of the dream that includes its main features or objectives?
• Does the dream align with your current values and purpose?

What Makes A Dream Clear?

We don’t have to have it all figured out. In fact, it’s important that we don’t. But that doesn’t mean that we should be vague, or confusing either. We don’t need to know the steps yet, but we do need specific achievements, as opposed to general ideas. 

When you look at the characteristics of a crystal clear dream, you’ll get a gut feeling whether, or not, you are clear on your own. Here are some examples that show the difference.

Instead of saying I want to write a book, you could say, I will write a book on how to be an effective leader and publish it by December 31.

Instead of saying I will get in shape, say something like, I will finish in the top 25% of the field in the spartan race in May.

I could go on and on with examples, but I think you get the idea. I didn’t talk about specific goals, steps, or how we would get there. We’re still just setting the dream, but doing so with a clear vision.

A Clear Dream Takes Specific Work

Big misconceptions about big dreams are that a, it’s easy and b, it happens quickly. This is simply not true. 

Our dream creation takes time and effort. It is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. We know we are getting closer when we feel intrinsically connected to it. When we get more and more feelings of alignment, not from the outside but from within, we know the dream is taking shape.

Doing the work to get really clear is well worth it because then we can set our priorities, systems, and habits that are in alignment with this vision. Oh, and the best thing is, we never have to worry about motivation ever again.

I love this quote from one of my favorite speakers of all time, Les Brown. He says “Find out what it is you want and go after it as if your life depends on it. Because it does!”

How To Gain Clarity Of Your Dream

If you feel like you still have some work to do in order to make that dream crystal clear, then you can give some of these things a try.

If you lack any clarity at all, then take the time to do some of these activities.

• Take A Walk. Go on a walk and reflect simply on why you think you lack clarity. What do you think would help you get more clear on your dream?
• Paint The Picture. Visualize, describe and even record what your big dream looks like. If you were to paint a picture in your mind, how would you feel? Dream big, but be super specific in terms of what you see, and add as much detail as possible.
• Inside Info. Conduct an interview with someone who has achieved a big, audacious dream. This could be a mentor, or hero, or someone you don’t know yet. But, make an appointment to ask them some questions about how they set their vision and how they didn’t lose sight of it.
• Famous Dreamers. Dive into the biographies of people who achieved their own big dreams. Make observations of what their dreams were and how they made them a reality. 
• Journaling. Take a couple of weeks to jot things down about your dream and how clear it is. As you brainstorm and write use prompts like

• What emotions do you feel about it?
• How does it align with your purpose?
• What does your gut say?
• How can you add more of your values to it?
• What other artists, or creations inspire it?
• Do your unique life experiences and goals influence it?
• Have you talked to other people about their dreams, or yours?
• What details do you think are missing from the dream?

Rewrite The Vision. This is the only specific, must-do step for regaining clarity. Now that you’ve done some work to answer prompts about why you lack clarity, it’s helpful to rewrite your vision. List all of the specific objectives of the dream in bullet points, with as much detail as possible. Then write a single sentence that summarizes the dream clearly. Put this up-to-date version of your dream in writing and post it somewhere you will see it every single day.

Thanks for reading. Your pal,
Justin @JustTries 

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