How to Make a Wish and Deliver a Dream

When I talk about creating a rich life, it’s about purposeful living; however that is defined for each of us. It’s about the quality of your life, living life and enjoying life. It’s about taking pause and thinking about what interests and motivates you, and then going after it. Make a wish … and fulfill a dream.

I was reminded of this when I attended a function for a Leadership Lake County group that I belong to. The keynote speaker was Dr. Dot Richardson, a two-time Gold Medal Olympian in Softball, and a phenomenal motivational speaker. She talked about the importance and pursuit of dreams. At 6 she had a dream and it was realized 25 years later when she won her first gold medal in the Atlanta Olympics and then again four years later in Sydney, Australia. Twenty-five years of perseverance, but the payoff was huge … and she never gave up. Hearing her speak you can tell that the joy found in pursuing her passion and dream just oozes from every pore in her body and it gets you all tingling inside.

The presentation was a reminder to me about how important dreams are and that the pursuit of those dreams is even more important. Let’s all stop and think for a moment about what that passion is for each of us. What is it for you? Find that interest and pursue it. Bring some of that joy and excitement that you feel when you pursue your passion … bring it to your life everyday. Find a way to turn your passion into profit. Think how much fun that would be.

I challenge you to think about your dreams and then devise a path to get there. They are all attainable with hard work and perseverance. Here’s how I approach the task at hand and get energized and super-charged about making my dreams a reality.

Shake the Cobwebs and Clear the Head

Go somewhere relaxing. Take a walk, take a bath. Go some place where you can clear your head and relax, even if it’s just for a few moments. Take a few deep breaths and just slow your pace down.

Visualize Your Dreams

Close your eyes and think about what your perfect life or job or relationship would be like. Think about something you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t. Don’t think about the what-ifs and buts … just get a clear picture of what that is. Visualize the details as though you are living that life.

Create a Vision Board

Next I would suggest creating a vision board. My husband and I both did this about six months ago. We bought cheap bulletin boards and went through magazines and cut out images that matched our passions, unfulfilled goals and dreams. It was a really cool experience. We each quietly scoured through magazines and cut and glued and pasted. It was like school days all over again with the scissors and paste. After about an hour or so we each shared our vision boards. There were common themes like having an off-grid (self-sufficient) home in the mountains, to very individual dreams like traveling the Grand Canyon, having a sail boat, and working in a virtual environment with a web-based business helping others. We look at it often which keeps the dreams alive.

Hit the Reset Button

Now it’s time to hit the reset button. Rid yourself of all the restrictions, limitations, can’t, won’t and don’t. In this new version of you … remember and focus on the fact that anything is possible. Remember that. ANYTHING is possible with hard work, perseverance and an action plan.

Make the Plan

I am a copious note taker. I carry around a journal book with me everywhere. On the front cover it says “Idea Book.” I jot down thoughts, ideas, to-do items, anything that comes to mind — inspiring sayings, things that motivate me, anything that moves me just one teeny, tiny step forward toward my goals and dreams. It’s amazing how writing it down makes it real (at least for me). It makes it manageable and actionable and then once completed I can check it off. It keeps the dream alive and moving forward which is all I can hope for. Everyday … just take one tiny step forward toward reaching a goal and dream and it keeps the dream alive. Remember that.

Empower a Team

When you talk to others about your goals and dreams, it’s amazing how real they all of a sudden become. You’ve got the thoughts swirling in your head but then once you actually hear the words coming out of your mouth … bam! … it’s real. Enlist the help of others and keep talking about it. You’ll quickly find a support group of others with similar interests or stumble upon complete strangers who can help in the process. You begin to gravitate to those helpful souls.

With action comes accomplishment … with accomplishment comes fulfillment. One step at a time is all it takes to keep the dreams alive and pursue our passions no matter how simple or grandiose they may be.

It took Dot Richardson 25 years to fulfill a life-long dream of winning the gold. That quickly makes a few weeks, months or even years seem like a simple task and small sacrifice to achieve something that you wish for.

Where the Living Frugal Tips come in is that by not being bound by debt and stuff you can free yourself up to more options and possibilities to turn your dreams into reality.

The wishes and dreams are different for all of us. Uncover yours and go for it! Make a wish. Fulfill a dream. It’s your life. Own it!