What would you do if money was no object?
Flicking back through my journal - it's been a funny old week really, or maybe it hasn't, maybe it's a fairly standard weeks' snapshot of what goes on in my mind, I just haven't written it all down for a while?!
I am 36 and am very lucky, I have a beautiful five-year-old daughter, a kind and supportive husband and wonderful family and friends. We are just about to buy our first family home in the beautiful county of Somerset (where I grew up) and I have a successful digital marketing business with my sister who lives just down the road. I know I am lucky and am so very grateful for all the good in my life, but it's not enough (and of course there's far more to it than this 'Facebook-style snap-shot' of all the good stuff!).
My journal entry for last Friday reads...
I am starting at this point because this is what's happening right now, and I want to record the journey I am beginning. I don't know where it will end up and I don't know if anyone else will ever read this, but what I learn I will share and if my words help or inspire another person too then I would love that.
Five weeks ago I started seeing a psychotherapist, two weeks ago I started working with a personal trainer and last Tuesday I attended a motivational conference in Bath called World Health Hero's. There was range of speakers from health practitioners to cancer survivors who told their stories with topics including anxiety, dramatic weight loss, health and fitness, connection, suicide and more all with a common thread which really resonated with me. During one of the talks we were asked to write down one thing we were going to go away from the conference and do along with a deadline. Mine was to set up a blog and publish my first one, and my deadline is today. I have been wanting to write a blog and have had it on a post-it note on my iMac for months!
I am going to write in a very honest and open way as that's the kind of person I aspire to be. There are many things to unravel and explore, but I will explain them as they pop up and seem appropriate.
The friend who I visited the conference with is quite a new friend, but we have discovered we have much in common and are in a similar place. She asked me on the way back in the car "What would you do if money was no object?", and my immediate response was "I'd go to Africa and buy a games reserve!". There was NO hesitation, it was my gut response, and you should trust your gut right? This is something I have spoken about many times. Previously, however, I have thought of it in a 'up sticks and go, because the grass is greener' way, because I'm unhappy and think that doing something dramatic must be the answer (running away!). This time I mean it in a 'better way of life way', NOT 'upping sticks', but finding a way that we as a family can have all the that we have here and spend time in Africa - the magical continent where the other half of my heart is, and that I have dreamed of constantly since I first set foot there in 2004, at age 23 and met my husband.
So how do you make your dreams come true? Where do I start? Below is a quote from an inspiring book - incidentally, the only book I took with me on that very first trip to Africa...
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
So I asked some like-minded friends and did a bit of research and put together these '7 steps to making your dreams come true'...
Dream big – I have this one nailed - I've dared to dream, to believe that anything is possible.
Decide and believe – It really helps if you have some support here - a network of like-minded friends - I have the 'Daydream Believers'. Make your 'team'.
Tell it – I am going round telling anyone who will listen, so this dream now lives outside of my mind too.
Take action – If you're waiting for your dream to 'fall in your lap', it's unlikely to happen... you have to work hard to achieve your dreams... it'll be worth it.
Love yourself – Very important this one... sounds easy, but for most (me included) it's really quite tricky.
View mistakes as lessons (not an excuse to give up) – Sometimes a 'wrong' turn will take you to exactly the right place.
Be amazed as the universe conspires to help you achieve your dream – I believe in fate, but I also believe in the power of believing in yourself and in your dreams.
Enjoy it – When you have reached your goal and you're living your dream, be sure to enjoy it. In fact, enjoy the journey, too.
So the journey begins... wish me luck, and if you have any advice , thoughts or you'd like to share your dreams, please comment below, I'd LOVE to connect with you! :)
#onelifeliveit #daydreambelievers