Following Your Dream: Stepping Out on Faith

If you've been around since my redesign, you know that in my services page I offer something called Dream Coaching.  It's my way of helping others reach for their dreams and help provide them with tools to make them happen because I find that most times, many of us have a seed of a dream deep in our souls that would fulfill our purpose but don't water it with positivity or a fertilize it with a plan.  Those happen to be some of my strengths and I harness that in order to make sure that my clients shine through and make their dreams into reality. Some days, though, I have to dig deep down inside myself and all of the tools I recommend, talk about and use, in order to get centered. Today was one of those days. After a few recent conversations, I've started wondering if I'm doing the right thing. If, indeed, I should be trying with all my might to create a brand for myself which will allow me to: write, help others and give me the flexibility to spend more time with the frog princess.

Let's be clear. I no longer have steady income after the layoff.  I wake up to hugs and kisses and can watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse without rushing around trying to get us ready to leave the house any longer.  I've met some awesome people and have had some great experiences during this time but, am I being responsible? Should I put my dream on hold, run back into whatever role I can find in corporate America so that I can make damn near six figures again? Is that success? Is that happiness?

I'm taking a BIG risk. I'm a single mother. I will be 37 next month (holy shit!).  What am I doing!?!

I'm stepping out on faith.  And I'm not looking back. I have felt calm all this time in my decision.  I can't help others achieve their dreams if I do not achieve mine, right? So, as is my usual routine, I had a few conversations with people in my life who are not afraid to tell me the truth (you need at least one of those. I guess I got extra lucky that I have about 6! ;-) ).  I read a book by one of my favorite authors, Paulo Coelho and then I turned to my Stepping Stones.  These are quotes and excerpts from Lisa Hammond's book Dream Big! which I highly recommend to my clients and which has personally given me profound inspiration to continue on dreaming.

Here are some of my favorite which are marked for easy access during days like this:

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our live." - Annie Dillard (doesn't that just scare you half to death?)

"The most important thing you will ever do is become who you were meant to be.  Blossom into yourself." - Lisa Hammond

"Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible." - Robin Morgan (and ain't I just the absurdest at the moment?)

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anais Nin

"We always attract into our lives whatever we think about most, believe most strongly, expect on the deepest level, and imagine most vividly." - Shakti Gawain (I've tried this with brownies to see if they will magically appear on my kitchen counter but I don't think it's meant to work for desserts.)

"We can never see the path of our life if we are too busy focusing on the pebbles under our feet." - Anonymous (I think of this one often when I look at what I brought in with unemployment in the last 3 months of the year and how all of that was less than what I'd net out of one pay period before. But you know what? I have wanted for nothing during this time and for that I feel blessed and grateful!)

I guess I write this tonight because I wouldn't be a good coach if I didn't understand the fears, the hesitation and the pressure that we sometimes feel as we move forward and try to achieve a dream that perhaps can only be seen fully and clearly through our eyes.

What dreams do you have for yourself and how long will it be until you attempt what might seem absurd to someone else?

*Stay tuned! I will be expanding my services in the coming weeks.  Social media management anyone?