Giving Yourself Permission to Dream Big

By Roger Crawford. This was originally published on Roger's blog.

Do you remember as a child being so swept up in a thought that time practically stood still?

To this day, I can almost recall how wonderful that kind of daydreaming used to feel. It was a peaceful and harmonious state. What about when you would find yourself so focused on something, like a balloon or a bug, that everything else around you simply disappeared?

I remember watching my own daughter drift off into such a trance-like state. I would often catch myself saying something like, “Earth to Alexa…” or “Anybody home?”  Children have such a tremendous capacity for this kind of focused concentration and dreamlike state.
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Give yourself permission to dream.
Why does daydreaming often stop as we get older? Why do we lose the ability to be totally captivated by the moment? Why do we stop cultivating our imagination?

I believe it is because we become “terminally adult.” We have been taught that if we spend too much time dreaming and engaging in imaginary ventures or simply become still for any length of time, we are somehow neglecting our responsibilities. We can even find ourselves feeling guilty as a result.

Over time, our minds become so cluttered with practical things that there is very little room left for anything else. Steven Pressfield, author of Do the Work says:
“A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable. It’s only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.”

One of the valuable lessons I have learned as an inspirational speaker is that people who achieve great possibilities are all great dreamers.

Too often we buy into the myth that our possibilities and success require constant activity with little time for creative reflection and dreaming. Our busy-ness erodes our wonder about what is truly possible. High achievers do not let everyday tasks get in the way of thinking about future possibilities and success. They intentionally take time to have childlike dreams about “What if?” 

What do you dream to achieve in your life?
Have you noticed that children rarely believe something is impossible?  Ask them, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Their answers are often ambitious and limitless.

How about you? What do you want your life to look like in the future? This question is important because anything you desire to change externally must first be changed internally. Therefore, when you create a clear mental picture of where you are going in life and set clear goals, you will become more positive, more motivated, and more determined to make it a reality.

I believe that people experience discouragement because they don’t have an inspiring long-term vision that leads them, step-by-step, into the future of their dreams. Here is a clip from one of my presentations talking about clarity of vision.

Make your dreams come true.
Have you ever thought, “I could make my dreams come true if only I had more time, opportunity, or talent?” Dreams come true for those who are not discouraged by what they don’t have. They are inspired by what they already have!

Your dreams are not only worth your time and energy; they are worth your LIFE! Here are some tips to help make your dreams a reality.

Planning your next event? Get in touch with us at the Capitol City Speakers Bureau today to schedule your ideal speaker and make your event  a success!