A vision for your life – are you living your dream?

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Have you got a vision for your life? Your vision for your life is the picture you have of your life or the dreams you have for your future.

Having a vision is useful – it helps you guide your life and make decisions more easily. When you don’t have a vision or a dream you float through life dissatisfied, often looking for meaning and searching for ways to validate yourself.

Vision is like a tiny spark of flame from a match. It flares brightly in the darkness but it needs fuel in the form of action and self belief to allow it to keep burning and to grow.

In the early stages that spark of vision can easily be extinguished by our own self doubt or the thoughtless words or opinions of someone else.

“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt”
William Shakespeare

If you are struggling to find a vision for the life you want here is some inspiration to rekindle that spark.

Did you throw your dreams out with the rubbish?

I have always loved books and reading. A long time ago I thought about being a writer but at the age of 15 I got my first rejection letter from a magazine called  Annabel. I decided at that point that I did not have what it took to be a writer so I gave up that dream.

In April I re-discovered the pleasure of writing. I had not written since I was a teenager. It was only today when reading a friend’s blog that I remembered my first and last submission to a magazine.
Maybe you could check your bin – your dream could still be there.

Are you undervaluing a natural talent?

Often, just because we can do something, we assume that it can’t be of value to anyone else because – it’s easy – we can do it naturally.

I worked with a lady who taught children with behavioural problems. She wanted to coach people but she was uncertain what her niche might be. I asked if she had thought about coaching and mentoring teachers who struggled with similar children in their classes. No one would want that she told me. So I told her about 4 teachers I was coaching who were trying to beat stress. Their biggest and most stressful problems were around children who disrupted their classrooms.

Just because you can do it – don’t assume everyone can and that your gift is worthless. I went into coaching because others could see a gift I have with people. Are you overlooking a gift?

Are you hiding in a Shadow life?

After I threw my writing dream away I took a part time job in a book shop. I loved being among the books and meeting new authors when they came to do book promotions. I got a great buzz from it. I didn’t realise that I was living in the shadows of my dreams. I was not a writer but it was as near to it as I thought I could get.

Are you living in the shadow of your dreams? Are you hanging around with the people who are actually doing what you really want to do?

I Don’t Know

I knew that I was unhappy doing the job that I did but my problem was I didn’t know what else I wanted to do. Not knowing was a huge barrier which prevented me moving forward. I need clarity but sometimes clarity can be very frightening.

Once you know what your vision for your life is – you have no excuse. Your vision or your dream is right in front of you. The next step is to move out of your comfort zone and follow your dream – but wait a minute – you know exactly where you are when you’re in your comfort zone even if it is not very comfortable – perhaps not knowing your vision is a good place to be after all?

Are you in the not so comfortable “comfort zone”?

Resistance

Sometime we really resist our vision or our dream. Often we resist because we are frightened what people might think, of what we might lose, of looking stupid. What is holding you back from realising your dreams?

The Wake up Call

Sometimes a crisis in our lives forces us to take action and to follow the dream because we realise that we are out of integrity, that we are unhappy and that we have always known our own answer.

“There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin

If you are feeling dissatisfied with your life the chances are that there is an unfulfilled dream waiting for you to bring it to life. Is it time for you to wake up?

What would you really love to do?

What would inspire you? What would get you bouncing out of bed ready to take on the day? What does your heart tell you? Try writing the answer to this question:-

If you could wave a magic wand and know that success was guaranteed – what would you do with your life?

What about you?

Many clients have come to me because they are not living their own lives – there are living someone else’s dream.

It might be , like me , my father’s dream of  a secure office job.

Perhaps life has just happened to you and you have fallen into the role you occupy. You still have your dreams – they may be well hidden.

Life is a precious gift. You can make full use of it, you can leave it unopened or you can change it for the life you want. What are you going to do with your life?

Tagged as: dreams, human interest, life, living your dream, rejection letter, shadow life, sparks, vision, vision for your life