Have you ever thought about what life could be like if you could just do that one thing?
You know what I'm talking about.
That one thing that would make life so much better and help you achieve your dreams. Maybe it's getting out of debt. Maybe it's getting your dream job or starting your own business. It could even be starting a ministry for the benefit of others, or even a blog.
Whatever that dream may be, there are a couple of things that you have to do in order to make that dream grow and become a reality in your own life.
Don't Fear Your Dreams
First, you have to overcome the fear of doing something different.
When you decide you're going to change your situation for good and start something new, you have to learn to think differently, act differently, talk differently, and leave some old things behind to make way for that new (and hopefully better) thing.
But change can be extremely scary, because whenever you try something new, especially if you know it will change the course of your life, there is always that nagging fear of failure, and that pesky fear of the unknown.
Those can really mess with your mind.
Next, once you overcome the fear, you have to be willing to take the first step.
You can't do anything life changing without first taking action that puts those changes into motion. It just will not happen without you putting forth the action it takes to get there.
Take a Fearful First Step Toward Your Dream
Sometimes the only way to overcome that fear is to take that first step while you're still fearful. I'm reminded of a story in Michael Hyatt's book “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World”. He writes about attending a Tony Robbins seminar where one evening the lecture was all about overcoming fear.
At the end of the session all 1,500 participants were led out to the parking lot to a dozen beds of hot coals and asked to walk across those coals in a physical demonstration of overcoming their fear.
Michael had to stare down his fear of getting burned and take that first step.
Once Michael took that first step, and eventually made it across to the other side, he felt a new sense of exhilaration because he overcame the fear and doubt about doing something he really didn't think was possible.
Michael realized that the key is to just start.
Once you take that first step, everything else will take care of itself as long as you keep walking. But if you fail to start, that lack of action will eventually cause you to live with regrets, wondering what might have been and never reaching your fullest potential.
So if you want to change your financial situation and start working toward debt freedom, start a work-from-home business, create generational wealth for your family, or anything else, then start taking action now.
Take that first step.
Even if you don't know every step you need to take to complete the journey, that's ok.
Keep walking across those coals.
You will make it to the other side.
Question: Have you had to overcome any obstacles in pursuing your dreams?
Tell me about them in the comments.
Resources:
What if you can’t figure out or narrow down what your dream even is? THAT is my problem 🙁
Hey Susan! There are a lot of good resources out there that can help out with that. Here are a few books I recommend:
Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job by Jon Acuff http://amzn.to/1O86vf1
Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work That Matters by Jon Acuff http://amzn.to/1GhopEh
The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do by Jeff Goins http://amzn.to/1FEyxvV
Hope these help! Call me if you need anything!
Thank you for this post. Since I was a kid of about 7 I knew I wanted to be an actor. I never pursued it. Now I’m nearly 61 years young and the dream still lives on. Thank you for reminding me that it starts with facing the unknown and taking the first step, then another and so on.
Ok Jaime, so here’s the big question…
Are you currently doing anything about your dream of acting or are you still waiting to take the first step?
Still waiting to take the first step. There are some details I have to take care of, like paying off my debts. Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post.
Jaime, no offense intended, but that sounds a lot like an excuse. You don’t have to be out of debt to be an actor. I would encourage you to get involved in local theater in your spare time. Being an actor doesn’t mean you have to make a living (or any money at all) from it. Just take the leap! One small step at a time is what moves you forward, but no steps get you nowhere.
I recommend a book that can help- “Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work That Matters” which you can find at this link: http://amzn.to/1KElIAC (this is an affiliate link by the way)
Thankyou Jason for all the wonderfull insights.I was always passionate about starting a business since I was a child,I still want to be one but lacks knowledge and support to do this.
If that’s what you want to do, then start educating yourself about how to do it. Read books, watch TV shows like “Shark Tank”, talk to people who own businesses, etc. The more you do, the more comfortable you will become with it and eventually you will realize you are ready…
Thank you,,this a good idea
That sounds intense! I have a fear of failure with my business(es) and not being able to provide for my family, but learning to trust in God with each step across the coals.
That’s exactly what you have to do. Keep trusting in Him, work your tail off, and make the best decisions you know how. He’ll do the rest.