Dare to Dream Again

What happened to your dreams?

As people mature into a life of responsibility, they often find that they've lost something along the way - something that they wish they could regain.

Where there used to be passion and imagination, there is now the mundane - the everyday activities.

Harsh realities have set in and life becomes centered around survival and maintenance, duty and obligation.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with this, there is a sense that something is missing. It's that little spark...the creative flow...the dreams.

Why dream?

Dreams are connected to hope. They imply a future worth having. They are part of the child-like aspect of life that is filled with creativity, imagination, playfulness, joy, and the life force.

Dreams provide motivation and incentive to move forward with inspiration.

Dreams symbolically demonstrate the purpose and beauty of life. They carry the deeper meanings that invigorate and sustain us on the journey. They remind us of what we truly care about. They are connected to our soul.

So...what can get between you and your dreams?

1. Disappointments.
Life didn't go the way you needed or expected and now you've shut down your hope for a better future. "What's the point?"

2. Hurt and fear.
Once you get hurt, it's very frightening to open yourself back up and become vulnerable to being hurt again. (And you will get hurt again).

3. Disbelief.
People get cynical and jaded. This is a protective shield to prevent further discomfort. It's 'easier' to not believe and become hardened. Human beings tend to go for 'easier.'

4. Anger and depression.
These two bad boys are a sure-fire way to keep new dreams from forming. They focus on what is missing and prevent you from recognizing possibilities.

So what's the solution? How can you dare to dream again?

·Dreaming requires risk.
In order to allow room for dreams, you must be courageous and willing to open up the places that have been closed. This means that instead of giving up, you need to get vulnerable...at least with yourself and your outlook on life. Vulnerability requires trust - trust that there is something good yet to be found...that you can handle disappointments...that you can heal after a hurt...that you can get back up if you fall.

·Dreaming is a both/and conversation.
Living a realistic, rational, and mature existence doesn't have to mean that you can't be creative, joyous, playful, and imaginative. These don't have to be mutually exclusive. Try incorporating both.

·Dreams must become the focus.
'Energy flows where attention goes.' If you focus on all the doubts, fears, negative outcomes, and past disappointments, you won't have much room to entertain this creative, positive, exciting, adventurous way of being. Try shifting your focus to what you want instead of what you don't want.

Let's weigh out the pros and cons:

a life of self-protection vs. a courageous and creative life,

I believe that the courageous life is the most rewarding. Don't you?

Can you imagine getting to the end of your life and saying, "Well, I'm so glad I stayed in that protective little box and didn't allow myself to explore, be vulnerable, or fully live my life! Good for me!"

Sadly, people unconsciously make that choice all the time.

But you don't have to do it that way. You can activate the choice for living a meaningful life right now.

Do you need to resurrect an old dream? Heal a broken dream? Create a new one?

Allow yourself to risk and take this challenge to open up that place in yourself once again.

Not only will you experience a renewed vigor and passion in your own life, you will become unblocked and channel healing and inspiration to those around you.

Now that sounds compelling!