Today I want to talk to you about your dream. Not the one that happens when your eyes are closed (although it might) but the one you have when your eyes are open. You may have swept it under the rug, but I’m here to pick that bad boy up, if only for a moment.
The audio version:
Let’s start with…
WHAT IS A DREAM?
There are several definitions but this is the one I like from Dictionary.com,
“an involuntary vision occurring to a person when awake.”
It could be defined as a goal or aspiration but I want you to tap into your senses. The type of thing you really can’t control.
DO YOU HAVE A DREAM?
I dare to say, “yes,” It probably shows up when you are talking about a particular subject and you get goosebumps or it’s something that plays again and again in your head when you go for a run or walk.
One thing you can do as you search or try to discover your dream is to take an inventory of a few extremes. Here is what I mean, ask yourself the following questions:
- What am I most proud of? What am I most ashamed of?
- What makes me happy? What makes me sad?
- What gives me energy? What drains me?
These are a few examples you can use to get started. One additional tip. Think of this in terms of behavioral interviewing. Look for stories in your life that help you to answer the questions. You can start all of the questions with something like, “When was a time that I was…” or pretend someone is actually asking you the question, “Tell me about a time when you…”
IS YOUR WORK MOVING YOU TOWARDS YOUR DREAM?
You might have got a perfect job thanks to the excellent templet of your resume to which you can Find Out More designs here and due to your skills, But is your work moving you closer to that thing? Is it preparing you someway or somehow to have more of that in your life?
It doesn’t have to, but boy would it be nice.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY TO MOVE CLOSER TO YOUR DREAM?
The answer can be, “absolutely nothing.” If you are cool with that answer then so am I…not really.
I want you to encourage you to make your dream part of your life. It doesn’t have to be the driving force of your life…right now, but let it give you energy.
Here are a few things you can do to add your dream to your life.
1. Take the time to write it down and make up what you want it to look like. I know it may be a little hazy right now, but it’s your dream so you can use a pencil, draw it out as you see it today and erase anything as life changes.
If you are too fancy for paper and pencil I would recommend Dream It Alive as a digital resource to help you draw your vision and to actually get support as well.
2. With that vision in mind, start to break it down into tiny steps that you can take each and every day. Questions like, “What do I need to do next to move this thing forward?” is all you need to keep things going.
3. Tell Somebody. Tell at least one person what you are doing so they can celebrate with you as well as keep your feet to the fire (wait why in heaven’s name would you want your feet on fire?). They can help keep you accountable.
It starts with a dream. Just ask Christopher Wallace who says, “It was all a dream, I used to read Wordup Magazine.”
===================================================================================
Did you find this episode helpful? I invite you to subscribe to No More Reasonable Doubt. You’ll get updates, podcast episodes and articles designed to help empower the young professional of color, sent directly to your inbox. Subscribe Now
No More reasonable doubt is on a mission to help turn young professionals of color from invisible to invincible. I’m your host Mike Ambassador Bruny, the dope beat you are about to hear to close the show was created by Papa Doc. I’m out. Peace.