Dream Harder.
What do you want, and how bad do you want it? The first part of that question is usually pretty easy. I could answer you with several different things right now, from the mundane and sensible to the insane and absurd. Give me a few minutes and I can come up with a whole list of things.
The second part of the question is harder to define though, because there’s an element of truth that can be determined outside of the answer I would give you.
Because how bad you want it is really answered in what you are doing about it.
There have been things in my life that I’ve really wanted, and I’ve pursued them with a significant intention. There have been other things that have been something I’ve wanted, but not necessarily enough to dedicate the time, effort and resources to make it happen. Whatever you want in life has a level of dedication required to achieve it.
And sometimes, even though you want something, you might not want it hard enough to make it happen.
Yet.
But all that can change. The fascinating thing about our minds is that we can control what we focus on, and by frequent repetition, and understanding how to drive emotions into your imaginations, you can begin to create within yourself a drive, a hunger, a passion and even an all consuming obsession if you want to.
The more you push yourself to dream, the stronger those dreams can become.
Eventually strong enough to tip you over the edge, and into the realm of action rather than words.
Recently, I talked about finding my purpose. What I want to do is pretty scary, because it’s going to move me out of my comfort zone in a huge way. It will probably open me up to criticism, possibly to ridicule and less likely but perhaps even to anger and hatred. It’s fraught with the potential to stumble and fall, but I’m going to do it anyway.
And I’ve been strengthening my desires, and hardening my resolve.
As I dream and imagine this purpose, I’m allowing it to wash over me, through me and within me. I imagine myself in the midst of it, seeing the changes in my life as I help to change those around me. I see, hear, feel and experience the thrill of making it work, seeing the fruition of the work I’m starting, and the ripples in time I’m going to be leaving.
And I see all those who I plan to benefit and help with the process I’m going to be starting.
Does it sound crazy – quite possibly. I’m protecting the dream right now by telling only a very few people about it, because it’s like a fire that can be put out right now.
Once I’ve begun to build momentum, the goal is to grow that fire stronger and stronger, hotter and hotter, both within me and within the world in which I plan to impact, until it is too powerful to be extinguished, too bright to ever be damped down.
Every day as I meditate, and visualize, I’m pouring greater and greater levels of emotion into my soul, imagining and being grateful for the chance to be of help to others, of joy at seeing lives turn around, and of wonder at seeing those who have been helped grow into the people they were always supposed to be.
Each time I dream, I try to dream harder, brighter, longer and further.
Because in the end, we’ll always know if you truly wanted something by the way you either got it, or burned yourself up trying. No matter how much your voice speaks the words, it’s your actions that testify of the truth and power of your intentions, and that power and truth is negotiated day after day by the dedication of your desire, and the focus of your passion.
If there’s something you want right now, but you haven’t gotten yourself to the point of going for it, I invite you to dream harder by taking your mind into the future, and finding all the reasons you’re going to love it when you’ve gotten there.
Drive yourself crazy with desire, and then release the brakes on your soul.
And move out into the darkness, and make your dream happen.
— Dr. Alan Barnes
@maddrbmusings