“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” – Gail Devers
This past week (February 22) marked the one year anniversary of our e-book’s launch. Over the past year, Simplify. 7 Guiding Principles to Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life has sold over 2,600 copies and it continues to sell every single day. Its launch was truly a life-changing experience.
And it continues to be the evidence of a dream fulfilled.
For nearly 35 years of my life, I wanted to write a book… to be an author. Selfishly, I wanted the pride that I associated with having my name written on a book’s cover. Unselfishly, I wanted to provide valuable inspiration to others… in a form that could far outlive me.
And given the fact that I wanted to write a book that people actually read, Simplify has indeed become the tangible realization of a lifelong dream. Actually, this past year has been defined by the fulfillment of a number of lifelong dreams:
- Dream: Spend more time with my family. Accomplished by finding minimalism.
- Dream: Write a book. Accomplished in February, 2010. Again in August, 2010.
- Dream: Run a marathon. Finished in May, 2010. Time: 4:31.
- Dream: Save Financial Emergency Fund: Accomplished in November, 2010.
I’ve discovered over the past year that dreams come in all shapes and sizes. But their fulfillment is almost always found in the same 7 steps…
1. Select a dream to fulfill. Some of us have so many dreams swirling in our minds, we don’t know where to start… while others of us are unable to put our finger on even one. Whether the decision be to write a book, run a marathon, buy a home, or find true love, fulfillment always starts with the intentional identification of one single goal and the heartfelt conviction to accomplish it. Take some time. Pick one. And then, set out to accomplish it.
2. Believe it is achievable. Unfortunately, too many people will never accomplish their dreams because they simply refuse to believe in themselves. Optimism is absolutely required for dream fulfillment and life enjoyment. If you don’t have natural self-confidence, make finding it your first dream to accomplish. I suggest, “A Helpful Guide to How to Be More Confident” If you do have self-confidence, begin to specifically direct it towards your chosen goal.
3. Ask for help. People have gone before you. Learn as much as you can from them. When I decided to run a marathon, I read How to Run Your First Marathon and talked to my co-worker Carole almost every single week. When I decided to write an ebook, I talked to Jeramiah (technology), Martha (editing), and Jana (title/outline). Each had information that I needed and played a significant role in helping me accomplish my dreams. Don’t let your pride be the one obstacle that keeps you from them. Instead, humble yourself and ask for help.
4. Adjust your life as necessary. By definition, if you have not accomplished your dream yet, you’ll need to adjust your lifestyle to accomplish it. And while some of the adjustments may be major, they always start small:
- Running a marathon starts with running one mile.
- Writing a book starts with deciding on a subject.
- Clearing your home of clutter starts with cleaning one drawer, closet, or room.
- Losing 50 pounds starts with changing one meal.
- Buying a home starts with saving one dollar.
Fulfilling your dreams will require you to change your lifestyle – one small step at a time. And while there may be a large number of steps to take, the good news is that the first one is completely achievable… and so is the second…
5. Set a deadline. Deadlines force our hand and call us to action. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to pick a realistic timeline and get moving. Buy a home in the next 3 years. Fix your marriage in the next year. Lose 20 pounds in the next 6 months. Or start a blog in the next 30 days. Find a calendar, a red marker, and a day. Go ahead, circle it. After all, a dream without a deadline is just a wish.
6. Tell others. I have found limitless encouragement by sharing my dreams with others. The number of people cheering for me automatically doubles. Soon, it triples. Suddenly, I’m not just trying to let myself down, but I’m trying to not let my friends down as well. And the cost of failure has just increased.
7. Stay focused. By nature, dreams will require perseverance. There will be successes and failures along the way. Those who persevere through the failures will accomplish their dreams. Those who give up will return to step #1. And if you’ve gotten this far, why would you want to start over? Instead of allowing failures to kill your dreams, use them to refocus you and your resolve.
On a side note, I realize all too well that the circumstances of life ebb and flow. I humbly recognize that the positive circumstances of my life this past year have allowed these dreams to be accomplished. One major illness, accident, or misstep could have derailed any of them listed above. If you currently find the circumstances of life derailing you from reaching your dreams, let me encourage you. Don’t lose hope. Just redirect your dreams.
In the comment section, I’d be interested to hear if you can specifically identify with any of these seven steps. Are their goals in your life that you are working to accomplish? If so, what are they? And which of the steps above are you currently working towards?
Excellent write-up.
Thank you so much.
Keep dreaming big and anything is possible if you put your mind to it.Don’t let the devil tell you lies all things are possible with God.Dont be so hard on yourself.
Guidelines are so clear but in my case I want and dream of putting up a bakery from small to huge bakery I have experience having worked as an accountant in a very big bakery in Zambia and at one time I ran my own bakery successfully for three years but I was renting both the equipment and the premises and when renewal time for for rentals came the landlord had already decided to venture into the business and refused to renew my tenancy agreement. The problem in Zambia where I am is financing even viable projects to knowledgable people even with a proven track record. I have tried asking financial institutions to purchase equipment for me, insure it in the financier’s name and open an account to be monitored jointly with the financier to no avail so the dream is hanging by the thread.
My dream is to be a doctor a very good doctor I have BSC in medical technology but I want to upgrade my self to be a doctor is my dream but the big problem is money I have no money to start up my education also a have a lot of responsibilities already registered class starts up on April but i have no money I don’t know what to do how to get this money for my education …to be a doctor is my dream my big dream I want someone to help me to achieve my dream but I can’t find one I want to finish my education but I don’t know where to start what do I do to achieve my dream ..my parents also want me to start but I don’t have money what can I do
Your article encourage me to more focus on my dream. Above 7 steps guide me how to achieve our dream without losing hope. I am trying to get a On-site job in IT department (Technical). I have short time to search my dream job because I got my Visa and need to move there as early as possible. Because my life partner is waiting for me and my daughter to stay with him but country is costly so we need to be financially strong and also complete dream job. So given me some points which will help me a lot. I will use those steps and will try to reach towards my dream job.
Thank you
I am a music producer and also want to fullfil my dream to be good Artist but there is a big problem that i live in a big joint family with my parents & i am the only earning person for my family, now my parents wants from me, get arranged marriage as soon as possible but i don’t want this, i want to live my life solo with my dream & even if i try to understand them that i dont want to be marry , they don’t care, no matter how hard i try, they just want to give me new responsibility to me, to show the society that they are good the parents, now i have only one option left to left the home & parents but my heart says don’t because my parents are old & they did alot for myself, now wgat i have to do
My dream is to practice dentistry in USA. I am a dentist. I will do anything to achieve my dream. I wish my life partner is as ambitious as me and he will be a dentist as well. I wish i fulfill my dream 🥺
The more I dream big the more I worry. I am so confuse wheather dream and goal in life caused us over worriness and do nothing about it.
The more I dream big the more I worry. I am so confuse wheather dream and goal in life caused us over worry and do nothing about it.
I want to fulfill my dreams help me please 🙏😭
I’ve always had dreams to become a successful recording artist. But I’ve had these obstacles in my life, and honestly, I feel like giving up.
But this article was meant for me to read it. And the universe affirms that. Thank you.
I want to be like Bill gates and always dream to be like him but when I think about it, it looks so hard as it is impossible or something that can be achievable by luck only and then I lose hope. I don’t know how to become such a man that can do anything that nobody else can and that’s the point where my mind stops thinking about what to do or how to do it?
Just believe in yourself because it is so difficult to be like someone. May be you can be more than him.
This word really inspired me alot… You’re right, It is hard when we’re trying to be like someone else, we should be ourselves and we can make more than them instead of having same like him…
Thanks and regards
This site is meaningful,Very impressive and I got a reason to make meaningful mandatory tasks like: like 2nd marriage for children, losing weight, flat belly, touring the country on bike, becoming a contractor, building a beautiful home and earning more respect in my eyes as well others.etc.
I think, we can do little things nicely to achieve big goals
Thanks a lot …!
My dream is actually to be k-pop start or singer, unfortunately 50% of this world parent’s never support there children and so as it is my parent’s only want me to concentrate on my studies only, but i am top student still i want that dream i always pray almost every single day. I think i will be one day !!
Every parents look ahead for their children’s future… If you want to be a singer or k-pop hard work for use your time for it… And believe yourself that you’re a singer then its easy for you to find a way for it, and full fill your dream
My dream is to become a singer. I’m wavering though. I wasn’t confident enough and thought that there are so many people who are talented than me. I used to think “what if I fail?” “What would i do i won’t be able to become a singer” “my life would be wasted then” but now I think its possible. I’m confident on my talent and I’m ready to do anything to achieve it. But sometimes I’m scared and want to give up.
every new morning have new chance
live your life as last chance
Fullfill your dreams like joy
enjoy your day every minute
change your confident in your goal ?
Good sayings. ..
What’s your short and long term dreams?
This page definitely has all the information I wanted
concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Thanks for finally talking about >How to Fulfill Dreams <Loved it!