How Far Apart Is Your Ideal Future from Your Reality?

By Sandi Smith

Do you have dreams of vacationing in faraway lands with the partner of your fantasies? When you think about your business, do you expect it to turn around and for you to become a millionaire any year now? Most of us have visions for our future that are grander than our life is now. The hard question is, are you really on track to realize them? Are you moving closer to your dreams or is the gap widening?

The good news is you can still accomplish your dreams. I don't care how old you are or how grand your dream is (most people think too small). However, there is a trick. The trick is you have to wake up.

Waking Up

Waking up means you have to gain a level of self-awareness that most people don't have. Not self-consciousness, but self-awareness. You'll need to want your dream with all your energy and take small steps toward it every day. Wake up to what it takes to do your dream.

Get Good

My friend Jay's dream was to fly his own airplane around the world. To reach that level of skill, he needed about 1,600 flying hours. Flying a few hours several days a week for 30 years was what it took to get ready for such a big dream. He did it, and you can too, but you'd better get started if your dream is really big.

I just spoke to a group of people who want to become best-selling authors. I asked them to raise their hands if they spent at least an hour writing each day. Only three did. You have to write if you want to become a best-selling author. It sounds dumb to spell it out here, but how much time are you spending practicing or doing your dream each day? What can you learn from your answer?

Smelling Fear

What's stopping you from your dream? It might be you. If you're not getting enough clients, it might be you. A prospective client can "feel" if they are not wanted. They can feel your insecurity, doubt, or busyness. Make sure you really want that client deep down and that you feel competent to take the engagement.

Animals can smell fear. Some people can sense it too. Wake up to how you come across to others. Do you talk about yourself all the time? Do you seem abrupt? Do you promise things but don't carry them out? Find out who you are to others, and you will have taken a huge step toward your dream. How do you do this? Simply ask them, and give them permission to be honest with you, no matter what. Then listen with an open mind.

On Hold

Do you procrastinate on taking steps toward your dream? It might be that you are afraid of success or failure or both. Most people are, but don't let that hold you back. Your fear might be unconscious; it might be so ingrained you don't really know it's fear because you haven't labeled it as such. In my 20s, I was actually afraid of people. I didn't know that was what the problem was until my 30s, when I woke up.

If you're not moving toward your dreams and closing the gap, then wake up. Your dream vacation, fantasy partner, and a million bucks are waiting for you.

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