Dare to Dream By Sherry Cardinal, LMSW-ACP There have been many instances this past month with friends, family and clients, as well as with myself, that appear to have the primary energy of propelling changes & transitions. We help to create this energy, consciously or not, when we need to further our evolution in some area of our lives. We can participate voluntarily in our evolution by having dreams that help us steer our process in the direction of our vision. Or, we can be carried along involuntarily, kicking, screaming and feeling victimized by circumstances beyond our control. I obviously favor the first alternative, but there have been times when I indulged in some futile resistance and whining...until I learned to allow myself to dream. Life flows much easier this way. It has been 4 years since I first began to dream about the life I am living now and wrote my dreams down. Dreaming is a continual process, which I refine and add to as I go along. They are slowly, but surely manifesting in the physical world and it makes life an exciting adventure to see what pops up next! This definitely keeps me interested with lots to look forward to each day. From my experience, the dream to reality process seems to go like this: 1. Give yourself permission to dream. You have to be willing to imagine your life with new ways of being and behaving. Our imaginations are not the stuff of a child's pretend world. They are the genesis of our creative power that starts as an inner image of possibility. As you carry that image with you in your daily life, you will begin to recognize and act on synchronistic events that will help manifest your dreams. 2. Write down your dreams and be specific. If you are dreaming of a new home, for example, state very clearly what you need. A place of peace and nurturing, a place in nature or in the city, a place with room for family, home office or seclusion? The specifics will help you make the choices and decisions that will best reflect your needs and values. Dreams can be about whatever you want or need in your life. Career, home, family, fun, recreation or even your overall lifestyle. 3. Go For The Gusto! If you're going to dream, dream big...but be prepared to take baby steps along the way. You may not be able to get the whole enchilada in one bite, but you can nibble away on it, slowly but surely. You will definitely make more progress than not doing anything at all. What matters is that you continually create a favorable environment for your dreams to gestate and develop. 4. Dare to color outside the lines! This is one of my favorite images for breaking out of old habits, routines and beliefs. (which are the biggest obstacles in our evolutionary path) Just because you have never done something or thought something before, or no one else you know hasn't done it or thought it either, doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done. Do what works for you, because that's what's right for you. Remember, kites rise against the prevailing wind, not with it! 5. Allow your Essential 'I's, your imagination, intuition and inspiration, to guide you...patiently! These will feed and water your dreams until they bud and bloom. It takes time from seed planting to harvest time! The Essential 'I's provide the energy and fertilizer for the dream's continued growth. Still not sure where to begin the dreaming process? Ask yourself this simple, yet significant question: "If I knew I only had one year left to live, how would I live it?" That should jump start your imagination and allow your life to take flight! "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly...." Langston Hughes As a Personal Evolution Coach, Sherry provides a collaborative, guiding and mentoring relationship for people who want to achieve personal and professional growth, make significant life changes and/or transitions, improve relationships and/or design and implement their life strategy. Having her Master's degree, Sherry has over 22 years of professional experience as a licensed therapist in private practice, as the founder and executive director of social service agencies and as a personal coach. Visit her web site, www.TalkFromTheHeart.com Copyright © 2000 Sherry Cardinal, LMSW-ACP. All Rights Reserved.