Playing Full Out: 6 Steps to Living Your Dreams This Year

Playing Full Out:  6 Steps to Living Your Dreams This Year

"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." Nelson Mandela

Do you have a sense of that amazing potential inside of you?  Do you feel the frustration of your life not matching what you know it could be for you?  Then maybe it is time to begin to play full out.  Not wait for next year, not wait for when the kids are older, not wait for when the economy gets better, not wait for when you don't feel scared.  What if you decided that waiting -- putting your dreams on the back burner -- was not an option for you anymore? 

Over the years of helping people manifest their dreams I have noticed the biggest barrier to stepping into ones dreams is a perception that they can't do it now.  They keep placing their dreams into the future as a possibility for the future - but not now.  What I have discovered is that these "reasons" people give for "not now" -- are just a cover for the fears they would have if they really went for it -- NOW.  The following steps are tips to help move beyond this -- and to finally step into the magical world of manifesting your dreams.

Step One: Make a decision to get clear about your dreams and commit to them----this YEAR.  Say to yourself "I'm tired of feeling stuck, of feeling depressed---I'm going to do something different this year and take action to follow my deepest dreams---I will do whatever it takes to do this."  Our decisions are very powerful and once we make them we set into motion the support of the Universe and what appeared to be impossible becomes magically possible.

Step Two: Take two hours to write out your dreams in every area of your life: physically, personal growth, relationships, spiritually, career/life purpose, hobbies/creativity/travel, and financially. The key here is to go someplace outside your home to do this.  Go to your favorite coffeehouse, café or restaurant --somewhere beautiful and inspiring for you.   When we are outside our normal surroundings it can be easier to focus and tap into our dreams.  It can also help us move beyond our own limiting thinking and really connect with our most expansive dreams.  I have clients do this and they report back to me about what they wrote saying "I had no idea this dream was inside of me-I thought I was confused but when I sat down to write-it was right there". 

Step Three: Once You Write Out Your Dreams. Take 3 x 5 cards and write out Dream Intention Statements.  Dream intention statements are short statements that capture your dreams for the different areas of your life.  Here are some examples:  "I am physically healthy, vibrant and in shape-I just glow with good health"  "My relationships with my friends and family are warm, fun and very peaceful" "I easily bring in $50, 000 this year" "I have the job of my dreams doing what I love with people I love" "I joyfully travel to Italy with my partner and we have a blast".  You write these statements in the present tense.  Write out about 7-8 of these cards. Read them in the morning and evening.

Step Four: Take 2 hours to Brainstorm all of the Steps you could take to Manifest these Dreams.  If you want to do it all at once you can do Steps Two, Three and Four all at once on the same day.  Then you would spend about 3-4 hours all together doing this.  Some people like to have a space between doing Step Two and Four -- and some people prefer doing it all at once.  See what feels best for you.  Definitely put it in your schedule to do.  Don't let it get pushed aside -- remember your commitment in Step One to live your Dreams this Year?  Make sure to keep it and follow through -- you will be SO grateful you did.  When you brainstorm your ideas do what you can to get yourself into a positive, hopeful state-and have fun with this!  The more you are in this positive state -- the easier the steps for your dreams will come to you.

Step Five: Begin to take the Actions you have identified to move towards your Dreams.  You don't have to know all of the steps that you need to take to reach your dreams -- just the first ones.  As you take the first step it will be clearer to you what the next step will need to be.  So often people stop themselves and say "I could never do this---I can't see how it could ever happen -- it seems impossible."  So many people close the door on their dreams by using this statement.  You will be amazed at what becomes possible for you as you begin to take those first steps.  I had one client who wanted to travel out of the country and could not see how this would be possible for her.  Her first step was to get a passport.  She took positive action having faith that the next step for her dream would reveal itself.  Step by step her path unfolded and she went on an amazing trip out of the country -- much sooner than she had ever dreamed possible.

Step Six: Keep going and NEVER give up on your Dream.  The people that I see manifesting their dreams are the ones that NEVER give up no matter what happens. They stay focused in the face of any challenges and just keep moving forward towards their dream.  They look at the positives of the challenge what they need to be learning from it and then just keep going.  Don't interpret a challenge as "Oh -- I guess this will never happen -- it really was an impossible dream."  Once you set a dream that is near and dear to your heart it means that is a dream that is meant for you and it will be fulfilled -- if you keep going and keep the faith.  Remember the Universe is on your side and totally supports each and every one of your dreams.  Just keep following the steps you feel guided to take towards your dreams until they manifest -- which will oftentimes be faster than you could even imagine!  

Here is to you and the upcoming year which is---The Year that you Played Full out and Manifested all of your Amazing Dreams!

Shelley Riutta MSE, LPC is a Holistic Psychotherapist in private practice specializing in Transformational individual counseling, presentations, groups and Workshops.   To get her free workbook "What Do You REALLY Want: Finding Purpose and Passion in Your Life" visit her web-site http://www.radiantlifecounseling.com/ or call her at 877-346-1167.