Dream Big

“You can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream.” -Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy  Martin Luther King Day! 

Martin Luther King Jr is still very much an inspiration today, over 50 years have past by since his assassination but his words are still very much alive. His famous “I Have a Dream” speech embodies what it means to dream big.

Dreaming Big

As long as I can remember, I’ve always been a girl with big dreams. At a young age I would tell my mom stories about going to Paris one day, this was my first big dream. My mom would read “The Little Engine That Could,” to me, it was my favorite story. Motivational storytelling at it’s finest! This book helped me through almost all of my life challenges as a child. I still love that story and I still believe that if I keep chugging, keep moving forward I will achieve my goals.

Mimi & Mili in Paris

Just like I dreamed, I made it to Paris and I took my daughter with me. I still remember calling my mom to tell her we made it safely. I remember her being completely silent for a moment, I thought the call dropped but she was still there just a bit shocked. She replied, “you’ve been telling me since you were just three years old that you were going to go to Paris one day… wow you are really there.” I was Thirty-three years old when I went to Paris for the first time. It took me thirty years to get there and every second was magical. Dreams don’t always come true overnight, but they do come true. Here are a few steps I take to help me reach my dreams.

7 Steps to Dreaming Big! 

1. Dare to Dream  – do not be afraid be afraid to dream find confidence in yourself and trust yourself. You are braver than you think and stronger than you know.

2. Seeing is Believing – visualize your dream and then write it down! Vision boards are a creative way to take all those great ideas you keep in your head put them on to paper helping you bring your goals to life. Not the creative type? No problem simply grab a pen and a piece of paper and start writing down your goals. Do not skip this step it’s important!

3. No Negative Energy – Not everyone will understand your big dream and that’s ok. But please note that just because they don’t understand doesn’t automatically make them a hater. Typically our close friends and family want what’s best for us, but you must be careful of who you take your advice from. If you know someone is a Debby Downer don’t go to them for advice. Do not let others project their personal fears on to you. As a young girl, I dreamed of going to the Air Force one day. Many members of my family told me I wouldn’t make it and encouraged me to find something else to do. I’m proud to say I will be celebrating 11 years in the Air Force in just a few months. Let no one stand in the way of what is in your heart, ever.

4. Surround yourself with Motivators – Look for people who have successfully overcome obstacles and let their stories inspire you to pursue your big dream. As luck would have it, today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He is a perfect example of a motivator and as we all know he had a really big dream! Motivators are anyone you find inspiring, it can be your mom, dad, brother, sister, co-worker, best friend, the options are endless and great news you can have more than one! If you struggle to find like-minded people you can hire a coach, seek out a mentor, or even use social media to find people who share similar interest. One of my favorite motivators is Oprah Winfrey. Her speech at the Golden Globe Awards in 2018, is one of many reasons why. Let’s take a peek!

5. Keep moving Forward – Failure is part of the journey, embrace it and learn from your mistakes. It is easy to dwell on the past but always remember you can’t change the past however you can acknowledge it, learn from it, and keep pushing on the next day. I was a single mom for quite some time and had plenty of days I wanted to give up but when you have someone counting on you it makes it a little difficult to make such a selfish choice. One of my favorite quotes “Anything worth having is worth fighting for.” #Repost!

6. Focus on Action – Establish a schedule to reach your goals and do your very best to stick to it. Find checklist helpful? Then use them or any tool that will help you go from dreaming big to dream come true. An accountability partner is a great way to stay on track. Start small but whatever you do just begin. You may change your mind and that’s ok but remember step 5 Keep Moving Forward. I have learned the importance of progress over perfection over the course of my journey. It can be the difference between the wannabes and the winners. Most people waste so much time trying to perfect their goals that they never achieve them. I’m not saying just put out anything. You will still have to work hard to ensure your goals get accomplished but do not let procrastination and fear prevent you from achieving your goals. At the end of the day, Nike got it right… Just Do It!

7. And finally, step 7 my own personal mantra, Be Fearless.

“What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” ― Erin Hanson 

Do what you love, love what you, #befearless!  Do you have a question? If so, leave a comment below and your question may be featured in a future post! In the meantime, I have a question for you… What big dream do you haven your heart? What has been stopping you from achieving this dream? I’d love to hear from you, please don’t be shy, contact me!   Fierce & Love,