How Are You Pursuing Your Dreams?

In the next few blogs, I want to help you Put Your Dream To The Test.

Most people I know have a dream.

Most people have no idea how to achieve their dreams.

My desire is to be like one of those encouraging teachers to you.

I want to prepare you to put your dream to the test so that you can actually achieve it. How? I believe that if you know the right questions to ask yourself, and if you can answer these questions in an affirmative way, you will have an excellent chance of being able to achieve your dreams.

The more questions you can answer positively, the greater the likelihood of success!

Here is my definition of a dream that can be put to the test and pass: a dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it.

A genuine dream is a picture and blueprint of a person’s purpose and potential.

Four Common Reasons Why People Have Trouble Identifying Their Dream

1. Some People Have Been Discouraged From Dreaming by others.

2. Some People Are Hindered By Past disappointments and hurts.

Disappointment is the gap between expectations and reality.

3. Some People Get in the Habit of Settling for average.

Columnist Maureen Dowd says, “The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.”

Kenneth Hildebrand said… “The poorest of all men is not the one without a nickel to his name. He is the fellow without a dream…[He is like] a great ship made for the mighty ocean but trying to navigate in a millpond. He has no far port to reach, no lifting horizon, no precious cargo to carry. His hours are absorbed in routine and petty tyrannies. Small wonder if he gets dissatisfied, quarrelsome and “fed up.”

One of life’s greatest tragedies is a person with a 10-by-12 capacity and a two-by-four soul.”

4. Some People Lack the Confidence Needed to Pursue Their Dreams.

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.” — Erma Bombeck

Are You Ready to Put Your Dream to the Test?

Okay, you may be saying to yourself, I’ve got a dream. I think it’s worth pursuing. Now what?

How can I know that my odds are good for achieving it?

Here are some questions, to help put your dream to the test:

1. The Ownership Question: Is my dream really my Dream?

2. The Clarity Question: Do I clearly see my dream?

3. The Reality Question: Am I depending on factors within my control to achieve my dream?

4. The Passion Question: Does my dream compel me to follow it?

5. The Pathway Question: Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?

6. The People Question: Have I included the people I need to realize my dream?

7. The Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?

8. The Tenacity Question: Am I moving closer to my dream?

9. The Fulfillment Question: Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction?

10. The Significance Question: Does my dream benefit others?

I believe that if you really explore each question, examine yourself honestly, and answer yes to all them, the odds of your achieving your dream are very good.

The more yeses you can answer, the more on target you are to fulfill your dream.

(Ideas from John Maxwell's Book "Put Your Dreams To The Test.")