Making Your Dreams a Reality – Start Setting Goals

Everyone has a dream, right? You might dream of owning a home, making it big in freelance writing, becoming a parent, or finally taking that cruise around the world. Any number of things can be your dream. The good thing about dreams is that they keep us grounded today while giving us something to look forward to. Nearly every famous person started with a simple dream locked deep within their minds.

So, what is the difference between those who dream and those who make their dreams a reality? The most significant difference is likely faith.

Dreamers and those who turn their dreams into reality all start the same way. Like a seedling growing in the mind, the dreamer creates a vision for the future. While one person may be content with simply envisioning the dream and watching it replay in their mind, the reality creator possesses faith. Faith that the dream will eventually come true. This faith manifests as momentum. The dreamer is still dreaming, but the reality creator is now actively creating. Dreaming and creating are both verbs, but the latter requires faith.

Faith that you can make a dream come true doesn’t have to come from some metaphysical source; it must come from within. You need to believe that one day, with enough work and persistence, you can not only visualize your world as you dream it but also live in it. You have to immerse yourself in your dream with commitment and action.

This means you must take small steps to make your dream a reality. If you spend all your time wishing and dreaming without commitment and action, your dream will simply remain a dream.

Consider those who have made it big. Their dreams started no differently than yours, but they took steps to make their dream come true. They sought out the right connections, performed in small venues for years to get their big break, auditioned for countless commercials, and held local political seats before running for Congress. Every success story begins the same way. Even if your dream is as simple as winning the lottery, you must first visit the store to buy the tickets.

Once the initial steps are taken, weaving a dream into reality requires commitment. Dreamers cannot accept failure. They cannot take the first “NO” as evidence that their dream won’t work. If you’re trying to monetize your blog or write a book, you can’t view slow progress as failure. Instead, see every new visitor or piece of exposure, no matter how small, as progress. Then commit more of your time, effort, and faith to the dream.

Perhaps even more important is that you must give birth to your dream by developing a plan. Those who can bring dreams to life often take the time to outline their destination. You wouldn’t plan a cross-country road trip without a roadmap, so why would you plan a dream without one?

Check out these guidelines to help you make your dreams come true.

1. Be clear about what you are dreaming about. Is it fame, fortune, or both? Be as detailed as possible and write down your dream as your destination.
2. Be realistic about your dream. If you aspire to be a famous writer but struggle to formulate a sentence, your efforts will be stymied. This doesn’t mean your dream is impossible; it just means you may need help from others. List your strengths and weaknesses, and find ways to address potential obstacles in your dream roadmap.
3. Assess the effort you have already put into your dream. If it has only existed in your mind until now, that’s okay. If you’ve taken initial steps, evaluate how well they are working to help you decide your next move.
4. Set realistic goals. While you may want to be a famous actor by next year, that’s not a realistic goal. Break your dream down into smaller steps so you can celebrate each accomplishment. Experiencing small successes will help boost your faith in yourself.
5. Align yourself with like-minded people. If you’re dreaming of an NCAA basketball scholarship, connect with others who share that goal. Belonging to a community can help you navigate the journey and find the right opportunities. Seek advice from those who have traveled this path before you.
6. Visualize the dream as reality. As you get closer to achieving your dream, make sure the image in your mind becomes increasingly vivid. This helps you mentally ‘live the dream’ and empowers you to adjust your course as challenges arise.
7. Define yourself by your dream. When people ask what you do or who you are, respond with your dream. “I am a writer.” “I am an actor.” “I am a college student.” “I am the owner of the most successful website on the internet!” These positive affirmations align you with your dream and are essential for reaching your destination.

Dreams take work to accomplish. Every innovation, invention, book, and website started as a dream in someone’s mind. With faith, commitment, and action, your dreams can become a reality. And the time to start is RIGHT NOW.