5 Tips For Going After Your Dreams
My Dad always used to say to “take the bull by the horns.” As a child, I never quite understood what he meant, but over time I learned it was all about going after your dreams and not being afraid.
Growth never happens from your comfort zone. It can feel strange, overwhelming, and downright scary. It generally takes a ton of confidence and a whole lot of faith that it’s going to work out. But, it’s absolutely worth it. There’s this saying that goes something along the lines of, “time will pass regardless, so you may as well follow your heart and your dreams, and work hard along the way to achieving them.”
Also read: 10 Tips for Creating Meaning in Your Life
5 Tips For Going After Your Dreams
Surround yourself with likeminded people
You’re the average of the 5 people that you spend most of your time with. That you typically share common interests, have similar mindsets, and can even make a comparable income. When you’re going after your dreams, it’s important to surround yourself with people who are on your court and who support you. To have a group of people around you who understand your vision, have dreams of their own, and can encourage you to keep going. Everything is a little easier when you don’t need to do it alone.
Set your goals and review them often
Goal setting is an important part of achieving your dreams, but to stick with your goals, you need to make sure they’re specific and can be reviewed and measured. Setting a goal is sort of like making a prediction for the future, but sometimes life changes and we need to adjust. Think back to 2020. If in February you set a goal to travel around the world in December of 2020, your goal would have likely seemed unattainable by March when borders were closed and the world shut down. Life happens, and unforeseeable obstacles can come up. During times of uncertainty, you have two main options: to give up on your dream of travelling the world or make adjustments to your timeline.
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Remember that setbacks are normal
Setbacks are an unfortunate reality when going after your dreams, and that’s okay. Find ways to slow down or to take a break when you need it, but don’t give up on your dreams altogether. Try to remain flexible, pivot when necessary, and trust that sometimes changes can lead to a bigger and better destination than we originally expected.
Embrace change
I think the most important thing about achieving your dreams is to find a way to embrace change. Our brains are extremely powerful and are wired to keep us safe by seeking out potential threats before they arise. Since change is often unfamiliar and takes us far from our safe comfort zones, our brains can get a little freaked out and try to throw on the brakes, often without even realizing what we are doing. Embracing change isn’t always the easiest thing because it will likely require you to actively reassure yourself that you’re on the right track. Be patient, be kind to yourself, and keep going.
Ask for help
Pursuing your dreams, embracing change, and leaving your comfort zone can all feel overwhelming and even a little isolating. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help along the way. Reach out to someone who has already been there and can provide clarity during the obstacles and setbacks. Reach out to someone who can help you set and review your goals to help hold you accountable. Reach out to a life coach who can help shed light to see which direction you should go in. Regardless of how it may feel along the way, I want you to remember that you’re never alone.