Being a dreamer can get a bad rap. I understand why. We live in a culture of entitlement – wanting more, bigger and better, and wanting it now. It seems selfish to Dream. Plus, people tout the “follow your passion” hype all over the internet. It’s easy to get hypnotized by a fantasy life where worries are gone and bliss is effortless. It seems ignorant to be a “dreamer.” People believe dreamers aren’t productive. The list of reasons why we don’t follow our dreams could go on and on. So I want to clear this up from the get-go. There’s a big difference between a fantasy and a dream. I’m not here to sell you on making money in your sleep from passive income, or living a remote lifestyle with complete freedom. Although I believe those lifestyles are possible, that’s not what I’m directly championing. What I do stand for is you making an impact in the world. You being bold enough to follow your dream because you know in your heart it’s the right thing to do. You being all you can be in this incarnation and giving your gifts to make the world a better place. Dare to dream Let’s not pretend that following our dreams is easy. It’s hard work just like anything else. Not only is it hard work, there’s more risk and uncertainty. Chasing a dream isn’t an overnight accomplishment. It’s more of a lifestyle shift; a commitment to your unlimited potential. With all of this hard work and uncertainty, why would you dare to dream? For one thing, it’s your duty to dream – to dream in service of a greater future, a greater world, and greater possibilities. We’re meant to dream and think big. We have imagination for a reason. We’re born creators. If you haven’t read The Magic of Thinking Big or The Big Leap those are two great places to start. (Those aren’t affiliate links by the way.) Plus, life gets boring without a vision and dream to grow into. If nothing else, having an inspiring vision makes waiting in line at the bank and looking at paint samples a little more tolerable – a nice caveat to the mundane. Chase your dream Chasing a dream isn’t the same as being an ideological drifter. A dreamer sees the vision of a new normal and strives to make it happen. Being a dream chaser means you take action. As Robin Sharma explains, “Expecting a dream to come true without doing daily acts to make them happen is like hoping for a big harvest – but planting zero seeds.” The good news is, motivation soars when you’ve claimed a mission and purpose to do something significant and make the world a better place. Most people are focused on a short term vision and thus aren’t able to see what’s possible if they give it time. Chasing a dream takes patience. (Insert transparency – Patience is a weak spot for me, but I’m working on it.) Dreams make all the difference Imagine the positive change that would come if we start to honor the dreamer instead of marginalizing them? Everything around you started with a dream in some form or another. Every invention, the phone you’re holding in your hand, commercial space travel, the ALS ice bucket challenge, and yes even becoming the greatest Pokemon trainer, all started with a dream. Think about the dream chasers who have changed the trajectory of our world. Walt Disney pioneered a new vision for animation and entertainment. Richard Branson has started some 4 gazillion companies. For shit’s sake, one of the most seminal speeches in history starts with “I have a dream…” But you don’t have to be Martin Luther King Jr. to make a difference. There are many ordinary people just like you who decided to follow their calling and do something remarkable. Have you heard of Bridge International Academies? They’re on a mission to eradicate poverty through education. The Holistic Life Foundation is bringing yoga and mindfulness to schools in Baltimore for greater peace and wellness. PeaceJam is all about starting a positive ripple effect. Giving people toilets can even change the world if you believe in the mission. If you’re happy with your life, that’s wonderful. I’m not saying you have to go on a tyrannical crusade. I just want you to consider and embrace that you have a vision and mission calling you, waiting for you to answer. Maybe your dream is to have more enjoyment in life, or to have more control over your time, or to be healthier. It doesn’t matter what you’re dream is, as long as it’s important to you. If you’re willing to stretch your imagination and see greater possibilities, I predict something remarkable will emerge. You’ll be called to create and contribute something significant. I predict you’ll stop holding back and start making an impact. If we can land on other planets in our galaxy, you can live a meaningful and significant life. You can make a difference in your community. You can make a difference in your family. We live at a time where it’s more possible than ever to fulfill a dream. You now have permission to dream – to start your own business, to start a movement, to feel more love, to make a difference. To uncover the purpose of your life! Be willing to dream again. Take the first step. Simply write a mission statement, in as much detail as possible, of a meaningful and spirited life for you. Visualize a life where you feel a sense of significance and contribution. Get a dream book or journal and start writing down your dreams. Write about what makes you cry and what makes you want to sing and dance. Write down what inspires you, the changes you want to see in your life and community, the legacy you want to leave. Start there. Have fun with it. Open up to the possibility of living your vision

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