Why Your Dreams Are Dead and How to Bring Them Back to Life

“When you stop growing you start dying.” - Lou Haltz

Harsh but true. 

“Travel the world.” “Write a book.” “Learn calligraphy in Japan.” These are more than dreams. They are Callings that you’ve had the urge to pursue since you were a kid. But now you’re all grown up and barriers like self-doubt, distraction, perfectionism, and fear are in your way. 

Moreso, you’re in your own way. 

To overcome these barriers, I’ve put together 3 specific actions that will help you bring your dreams back to life. 

1. Identify Limiting Patterns

Your dreams are dead because of your own self-manifested limiting beliefs.

Again, harsh but true. You are being called upon to answer the question - “Where in pursuing your wishlist are you sabotaging yourself?” Transformation expert, Katie Brauer, calls this moment in the journey “trouble at the border.” Perhaps the literal thought of crossing borders and traveling alone to another country scares you. Or you think writing a book is for “writers” and you aren’t one of those. Or you’ve always wanted to go to Japan and learn calligraphy from an expert but planning a trip that far away stresses you out. 

Like meditating, this step isn’t asking you to react and judge your limiting beliefs. It is simply asking you to observe the moment(s) when you throw yourself off the “dream mobile” and back to what’s familiar. Once you’ve witnessed these moments for yourself, move on to the next step.

2. Fear Setting Your Dreams

It’s now time to face your fears. We’ll use entrepreneur and author, Tim Ferriss's famous “fear setting” exercise (use this free Fear Setting Check List).

Since VAWAA is a community of travelers and seekers, let’s take the dream to learn the art of calligraphy in Japan:

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A. On the top of the page write “What if I traveled to Japan to learn calligraphy?” First, begin to define ALL the worst-case scenarios if you did pursue this dream. Three examples of frequent fears VAWAA guests face are:

1. Define: I am not an artist and won’t be as good as a master artist. 

2. Define: It’s overwhelming to travel alone. 

3. Define: I don’t have enough money or vacation days.

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B. Next to each fear write down how you could prevent it from happening and if the worst-case did happen, how could you fix it?

1. Define: I am not an artist and won’t be as good as a master artist.
Prevent: To prevent this from happening, I’ll remind myself that VAWAA’s are designed for all skill levels with artists who are keen to share their knowledge with me.
Repair: There’s no need to repair this fear because it isn’t true! I will instead be sure to approach a VAWAA with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

2. Define: It’s overwhelming to travel alone.
Prevent: To prevent this, I will pitch the idea of learning calligraphy in Japan to my friend, partner, mum, dad, sister. It will be a great bonding experience.
Repair: If I do end up going alone, I will remind myself that a VAWAA artist is like a trusted local friend in a new country. 

3. Define: I don’t have enough money or vacation days.
Prevent: I will hold back on spending money on frivolous things that don’t help me get closer to my dream. And plan my vacation days in advance so I can take this longer vacation of 4-6 days.
Repair: If I don’t have enough money or vacation days, I will wait until the next year to plan accordingly so I can fulfill this dream and use the vacation days I do have.

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C. Now, answer this question: “What might be the benefits of an attempt at planning a trip to Japan to learn calligraphy?

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D. Finally, map out the cost of inaction (of not pursuing the dream) across this timeline of 6 months, 1 year and 3 years.

3. Set an intention (and mark it in your Calendar)

An intention is the act of bringing awareness to something you desire for yourself and affirming it in the form of a declaration. I saved this one for last because it’s of no use to pursue a wish if you are feeling doubt or hesitation. Now that you have worked through your own limiting beliefs, worst-case-scenarios and came up with solutions to them - you have your own back to manifest your dream into reality. 

Complete this sentence:  “By (x date) I will achieve (x goal).” 

Write it down. Stuff it in your pocket. Tell it to a friend. Put it in your calendar. Now leave it be and trust that it will come to fruition. 

All set? Book your VAWAA today. Search Artists.

Written by Charlotte Waldmeir

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