What are your dreams?

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream new dreams.” – C.S.Lewis

Childhood dreams come and go. We can all remember the excitement we felt thinking about what we wanted to do. My childhood dream was to be an astronaut. I would spend hours imagining what it would feel like to float in space, completely weightless. I’d imagine looking down at planet earth wondering if I could see our house.

But as we grow up, and reality kicks in, those dreams fade away into the unforeseen darkness never to be dreamt of again.

As we mature, we start contemplating what path would suit us best.

“Do I want to become a business person in a sharp suit?”

“Do I want to change the world with the next big invention?”

Or, “I’m happy with a paper round.”

Is it possible to have a good career and still reach some of your dreams? I know being an astronaut is a bit far-fetched, but we’re not talking about that. We’re talking about the adult dreams that matter to us.

I have heard hundreds of patients tell me they had a dream. For example, Barbara wanted to walk up Machu Picchu, become an air hostess, and go on to see the world. Unfortunately, Barbara missed the opportunity and instead found herself in a completely different career. She was explaining to me the length of time she had planned and organised her career to reach her dream but due to the stresses of life and family commitments, her dream simply faded away. But it’s never too late to have a new dream…

The best ways to set yourself a goal and follow your dreams are:

First, create your dreams or goal.

Don’t worry how big or small it is, the most important first step is to put pen to paper and write it down.

Second, keep the dream fresh.

Letting it slip away will only cause you to procrastinate so remind yourself over and over!

Third, celebrate small successes.

It’s a journey. One step at a time. Feel free to do the happy dance in your living room and honour small victories in a celebratory toast over dinner.

Fourth, there will be challenges along the way.

That’s normal. Don’t dwell on past mishaps. Instead, push yourself further to achieving excellence. You will be rewarded for it. Will it be easy? Nope. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!

Fifth, self-approve your dreams.

They are your dream for a reason and only you can get there – you got this!

At first, it may seem like you have a mountain to climb, but follow these simple steps. You may not become an astronaut but eventually you’ll reach that distant star!