Dream On

I often think about things as “oh it would be so cool to…” or “I can’t wait until we…” and I dream and dream and dream until I can’t stand it any longer and I go do something to distract myself from the dreams I’m dreaming up in my mind. It’s as if I know that there’s only so much I can do before I just do it (i.e. take the leap, buy the ticket, start the job), so my brain gets excited until it can’t anymore, and then gets overwhelming.

In the world we live in, it’s so normal to dream and then say “oh, I’ll do it when I retire” or “maybe when the kids are in school” or “maybe later, when we’re ready”. In a way it makes sense. I get it. You need to plan your life a little bit. You can’t just expect everything to work out. Or, can you?

There are things I want to do; publish a book, teach yoga, live on a boat again, travel, eat delicious food by the sea. I get so excited for the idea of these things that the act of following through on them feels, well, not fun. To write a book you have to put in the time, sit down, write it out, and not to mention the editing, publishing, agent search, and all the failures that are sure to pop up before the successes. To teach yoga you have to find a studio, or a space to practice, and people to come. To live on a boat we have to buy a boat, and that’s not happening right now for obvious reasons. It’s as if the dream shines so bright the actual work feels too hard.

But the thing is, we have to just do it. Leap. Jump. Fall. Whatever cliché you want to throw in, do it. And when you follow your dreams, big or small, it’s going to be scary, but you know what you can do? You can do it scared.

We moved countries. I was scared, but I did it anyway and gah, I am so glad we did. There are things you can’t run away from. Things that you know, in your bones, are meant for you but you just have to do the work to make them yours, to make it happen. You can.

I think it’s in us to doubt ourselves. It allows us to take a step back and observe what’s happening, to move forward cautiously, to make informed decisions. But when we let that doubt own us, rule our hopes and dreams, that’s when we lose. That’s when the doubt is too big and needs to be put back in its little box in the corner of your mind.

The truth is, I doubt myself often. But I like to think that I know when to say, “no, I’m worth it, I am worthy of this dream and I’m going to make it happen.” I mean, nobody is perfect, so yes, sometimes the doubt, the insecurity wins, but only for a moment. Just long enough for me to gather them up in their respective boxes and be packed nicely away into my mind. All of this, so that I can say “I’m worthy of the things that I want.”

Like most of my blogs, this really is just a spiel of words that come to me as I type. I came into this with “dreams” being my word of focus and left with a “do it scared” and “you are worthy” mindset. But, honestly? I’m not complaining. Everyone deserves to chase their dreams, no matter how big or how small. The only thing truly limiting you, is yourself.

So, get out there. Dream up whatever you want. Don’t let it get too big or too scary to chase. You, my dear, are your biggest roadblock and your biggest supporter.

Dream on,

Skye