Are you holding back in your dreams because you feel they're too big?
There have been times when I look at goal I've set and start talking myself out of it. Those old messages of my well-meaning grandmother start jabbing at me, "don't get your hopes up, you'll just be disappointed," or "stop setting your sites so high when you know there's no way you can reach them."
There have been times I've allowed feelings of unworthiness to creep in, taken my dream down a few notches so it's more in line with "reality", and gotten depressed because doing so made me feel even more unworthy. Have you ever felt something similar when it comes to your own dreams?
Fortunately, we have control over our thoughts and feelings...
There have been times when I look at goal I've set and start talking myself out of it. Those old messages of my well-meaning grandmother start jabbing at me, "don't get your hopes up, you'll just be disappointed," or "stop setting your sites so high when you know there's no way you can reach them."
There have been times I've allowed feelings of unworthiness to creep in, taken my dream down a few notches so it's more in line with "reality", and gotten depressed because doing so made me feel even more unworthy. Have you ever felt something similar when it comes to your own dreams?
Fortunately, we have control over our thoughts and feelings...
We can turn things around. We can refuse to give space and energy to those discouraging messages whether from others or ourselves. We can reclaim our dream no matter how big it may appear.
But, how do you know if it's a true Heart-Desire or merely a fleeting wish?
Your dream is the seed in the garden of your heart.
Do you doubt that the tomato seed you planted will produce tomatoes? Do you worry that a weed will sprout from it instead? Not likely. You water it and know that you'll be having some nice tomatoes for dinner when the time is right. The dream in your heart will sprout and emerge as long as you faithfully nurture it, protect it, and allow it to appear in the right time.
Remain faithful to your dream and it will reward you in due time.
But, how do you know if it's a true Heart-Desire or merely a fleeting wish?
- Do you get an excited, happy feeling when you allow yourself to imagine it? Does your face light up when you talk about it? Does that feeling stay with you over time? That's a sign that it's a true dream...one meant for you.
- Do you get a sinking, almost mournful, feeling when you try to dismiss it or set your sites lower because other people tell you it's too lofty or impossible and you begin to think maybe they're right? If so, remember that it's your dream, not theirs. You have yours, they have theirs. Each of us makes the choice remain faithful to our dreams or walk away from them.
Your dream is the seed in the garden of your heart.
Do you doubt that the tomato seed you planted will produce tomatoes? Do you worry that a weed will sprout from it instead? Not likely. You water it and know that you'll be having some nice tomatoes for dinner when the time is right. The dream in your heart will sprout and emerge as long as you faithfully nurture it, protect it, and allow it to appear in the right time.
Remain faithful to your dream and it will reward you in due time.