Dreaming's Not Just Fun. It's Science.
“The only step you ever need to take to complete your whole life’s mission is the one right in front of you.” ~ Martha Beck
Your Future Self Has Some Great Advice for You
Last week I shared an exercise where you became your future self who had figured it all out.
You stood five years in the future and looked back knowing you’d done everything you needed to do to land your ideal job, move to your next chapter, fulfill your life’s mission, become who you always knew you could be.
This may have sounded like a “nice to do” thing, another one of those airy, fairy, new-agey things that you’ll do later when you have a bunch of time. You’re busy, you have things to do. I get it.
But, it’s actually really important. The real purpose in doing this is to get you into a different way of feeling.
I call it “creator” space. As your future self, looking back on all you’ve accomplished, all the fears you overcame, you feel your body relax. You move past present-day anxiety and worry and enter a place of peace.
Is it Possible that Your Old Ways of Motivating Yourself Aren't Working Anymore?
If you’re someone who carries around a lot of stress, this exercise can provide much-needed relief. Is it possible that being stressed and gritting your teeth isn’t getting you everything you want anymore?
Is it possible that you need a new strategy? How about gaining access to the wisest, smartest part of yourself?
This is readily accessible to you. You don’t have to meditate for an hour or go on a week-long retreat (though those things are so good too).
You just need five minutes, ten minutes, half an hour and your brain and your imagination. Totally free!
Science-based, lab-tested.
When you do this, you may notice that you start getting ideas. They start to ping, ping, ping. You think about other people who are doing interesting things. You may think about talking to someone you know. You may simply start googling. Something that once seemed daunting becomes something you could do. You make a plan. You reach out. Why not?
You feel curious.
This is actually scientifically proven*. When we’re tense, stressed, anxious, our thinking becomes binary. We think of one, maybe two options – generally one is a terrible scenario, the other is not much better. When we’re anxiety-free, relaxed, in “creator” space, our minds open up, we’re expansive, we easily think of ten good options (and wonder why we only saw two before).
That’s why, when you’re looking to make a move in your work life, it seems like the options are few and far between. Tension makes it seem so real. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. This is a tool you can use. It’s fun. It’s free. It’s powerful.
If You're Someone Who Doesn't Know What They Want, You Can Also Try This ...
Pretend a huge miracle happened overnight. It wiped out all your problems in a single flash. Wouldn’t that be awesome? What do you have today? How are you living? Who are you with? How does it feel? Write it all down. See where you go with it.
You Were Designed for More - More Meaning, More Purpose, More You
Life’s too short to go through it feeling stuck, undervalued, and unfulfilled.
Don’t settle. Don’t live in a rut. Don’t go into autopilot. Take a step out of stress, overwhelm, being spread too thin. It’s never too late. It might be different depending on what stage of life you’re in, but it’s never too late. (I’ll be talking more about this in future posts).
Here's a Heart-Leaping Example of a Dream Coming to Life
You never know what you can accomplish when you dream. I am seeing more and more sanctuaries like this, putting their dreams out there, raising funds, and changing the world. Check out this video. You can donate here.
Maybe you’re wondering how you can take your “not knowing”, your doubt, your fear, this swirling stuckness and turn it into that dream? Next week, we’ll flash back to present you to more practical matters. And take the next step.
*I highly recommend the book Positivity, by Barbara L. Fredrickson. Positive Psychology is a science-based arm of Psychology that gives you lab-tested tools that create “upward spirals” in people’s lives. Coaching is the day-to-day application of such tools, in service to a dream, goal, and a meaningful life.