WRITTEN BY KRISTA BEAUVAIS

Whether you’re looking to pursue a new venture or change your life completely, there are only five steps required. Dreaming is the first. But how do you do it effectively? And how do you start dreaming again after life has beaten you down?

Step 1- DREAM

Welcome to the birth of new possibilities! This is the second article in a 7-part series entitled ‘HOW TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE’. If you already know how to dream, skip this and move to Step 2 (article pending). If you’ve not read the first article, you should do that before getting started here.

1. How to Change your Life ( in 5 Steps )
2. …current article…
3. How to Change your Life ( Step 2 of 5 )
4. How to Change your Life ( Step 3 of 5 )
5. How to Change your Life ( Step 4 of 5 )
6. How to Change your Life ( Step 5 of 5 )
7. From Dreams to Reality ( 5 Steps in Action )

Success Objectives for Step 1:

To be successful in Step 1, you’ll need to:

1. Understand what a dream IS and ISN’T
2. Understand why dreaming is important
3. Learn how to dream effectively
4. Collect your dreams

1. Understand what a Dream IS and ISN’T

A dream is simply a passive idea. It is not the same thing as a want. 

If you dream about something, you are simply considering it as a possibility. A want is something you have already analyzed and have the desire to pursue.

‘By dreaming about something, you are not saying that you want it. You are only imagining what it would be like to be in that situation, doing that thing.’

You need to understand this distinction in order to free your mind. Just thinking about something is not the same as committing to it – or even saying that you will want it. You’re just dreaming:

‘Dreaming is simply the state of allowing ideas to pass through you. You’re watching them like you would a movie. You’re not directing the movie or even invested in the outcome. You’re just watching the movie!’

Thinking about something does not mean that you want it or that you will pursue it. It just means that it’s an idea that entertains you and is fun to think about. That’s it.

2. Why Dreaming is Important

When you’re young, you dream wildly and openly. But as you age and ‘the real world’ takes hold, you learn about limitations that influence your dreaming. You then begin dreaming inside the box of what’s considered possible or practical.

This is precisely why you can get ‘stuck’ in what you may feel is a ‘mediocre’ life. Years of making sensible and responsible decisions may not have put you where you want to be.

Something may feel ‘off,’ like something needs to change. But what exactly is it? Where do you start? How do you figure out what needs to change? Simple. You start by learning to dream again…

3. How to Dream Effectively

Dreaming effectively will not necessarily be instinctive, so please don’t get discouraged. If you’re not used to it, it will take some practice. Here’s how to go about it:

A – Visualize your Ideal Life or Specific Situation

Start by picturing your ideal life or situation. If everything were perfect, what would it look like? Where would you be? What you you be doing? How would everything function? The more outrageous, the better. You are only dreaming.

Sit back and be a passive observer of the thoughts that come to you. Don’t try to judge yourself for the thoughts that appear. You are simply dreaming. Remember:

‘You are not committing to anything. You are only dreaming!’

If ideas don’t start arriving, then head to a library or bookstore and start browsing magazine and books. What attracts you? What articles or photos are you naturally drawn to? Notice that.

See what things naturally draw your attention and then let your mind wander over and around those things to see what it does and where it goes. Give it time and let your subconscious do the heavy lifting. Then be open to the ideas when they arrive.

B – Try to SOLVE a Problem

We often struggle to dream about our ideal life because if feels selfish. It’s not (but that’s another article entirely). If this happens to you, focus instead on a problem in your life that you want or need to solve.

Use that as your starting point to consider what solutions could work. The resulting ideas are your dreams. They’re the what if and the could be ideas dancing in your head. Those are dreams!

If you’re still having trouble, get online or read some books. Your problem is probably not unique. What are others doing? What solutions are they using? Remember:

‘Your dreams don’t need to be unique; it’s OK to borrow from others.’

C – Do NOT Think about what is POSSIBLE or PRACTICAL

As you come across ideas, you may be inclined to filter them. You’ll either push them out of your mind if you consider them impossible or impractical. Or you won’t even let the full idea hit you before you’ve already decided it’s not worth considering because it’s just too far-fetched.

This is not dreaming. You’re getting ahead of yourself. You have to fight against this instinct. You’ll have time to sift and categorize later (that’s Step 2). For now, you’re just letting ideas flow through you to ensure that you have the richest, most potent starting point for Step 2. Remember:

‘You’re not assessing anything just yet. You’re just dreaming.’

3. How to Collect Your Dreams

With every idea that comes to you, you must collect it in some kind of net. In Step 2 you’ll need the contents of your net so the more you can collect in there, the better.

How you collect your ideas can come in many forms. Depending on your mood, where you are, or how an idea was sparked, you may wish to use any or all of these:

• write down single words
• write down sentences or paragraphs
• draw pictures
• take photos
• collect physical items
• cut pictures out of magazines
• cut articles out of newspapers
• build a collection of images on Pinterest
• use post-it notes on a wall
• jot ideas on a whiteboard
• create a vision board
• keep notes on your phone

Do whatever works for you. And take as much time as you need. You may be able to complete this collection process in a few minutes or hours – or it may take a few years.

As you practice this, it will begin to happen naturally and you’ll find that you’re subconsciously dreaming all the time! You’ll be in meetings and ideas will pop into your head – grab them before they disappear.

You’ll be having lunch with someone and an idea will hit you – grab it! You’ll be browsing the shelves in the grocery story and an idea will spring into your head. Again, grab it.

Grab them all. Don’t filter them out in any way. Don’t think about whether or not they’re good, bad, crazy, or impossible ideas. Just notice that you’ve been dreaming. Notice what idea has hit you. And grab it. You don’t need to do anything other than this until you’re ready for Step 2 – Decide.

Step 1 has been Successful if:

• You know that a dream is just an idea (not a want or a commitment)
• You know that dreams are important starting points for change
• You’ve experienced new ideas popping into your head
• You now have a physical collection of your dreams

If you can tick all of these, then give yourself a nice reward. It’s not easy to dream effectively like this – but it is essential if you really want to change your life. If you have any questions or need any further help with dreaming, please drop me a note in the comments below (or via the Contact Form) and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.

Congratulations! You’re now ready for Step 2 – Decide (article pending; follow us to receive it when it’s published)!

All Articles in the Series:

1. How to Change your Life ( in 5 Steps )
2. …current article…
3. How to Change your Life ( Step 2 of 5 )
4. How to Change your Life ( Step 3 of 5 )
5. How to Change your Life ( Step 4 of 5 )
6. How to Change your Life ( Step 5 of 5 )
7. From Dreams to Reality ( 5 Steps in Action )

KRISTA HAS ALSO SHARED

• See her profile page for the full list

FURTHER DETAILS

• Written, formatted and edited by:  Krista Beauvais
• Photos:  photo is courtesy of Krista Beauvais

CONTACT

• Email:  krista [at] wodara [dot] org
• Contact Form