Make Your Creative Dreams Real

1. Embrace Your Creative Dreams: They Are Your Lifeline

"I believe that creative dreams saved my life."

Dreams as sanctuary. Creative dreams serve as a haven and retreat, especially during difficult times. They fuel us with wonder and infuse us with certainty that there is goodness in the world. By embracing our creative dreams, we tap into a powerful source of inspiration and resilience.

Universal capacity for dreaming. Everyone has the ability to identify and pursue creative dreams. These dreams don't have to be grandiose; they can be as small as a dot or as large as a continent. The key is to recognize and nurture them, regardless of their size or perceived importance.

Dreams benefit the world. When we actively engage in living our creative dreams, we become more available to be of use to others. Our willingness to expand ourselves and our dreams attracts and adds to what is needed in the world. By pursuing our creative visions, we contribute to the collective good and inspire others to do the same.

2. Navigate the Land of No: Overcome Fear and Self-Doubt

"The Land of No is actually all just a dark facade."

Identifying obstacles. The Land of No represents the mental barriers that prevent us from living our dreams. These include:

• Fear and negativity
• Procrastination and perfectionism
• Resistance and inertia
• Inner critics
• Grudges
• Jealousy and competition

Strategies for overcoming. To navigate the Land of No:

• Recognize and identify fears
• Reframe negative thoughts
• Practice doing things "badly" to overcome perfectionism
• Transform procrastination into action through micromovements
• Dialogue with inner critics and turn them into allies
• Release grudges and practice forgiveness

Embracing imperfection. Understand that the journey of pursuing creative dreams is messy and imperfect. By accepting this reality, we can move forward despite our fears and doubts, knowing that these challenges are part of the process.

3. Cultivate a World of Yes: Harness Love, Willingness, and Self-Acceptance

"Love is the most visible in the world of YES."

Power of love and yes. In the World of Yes, love serves as the foundation for creative dream-living. By cultivating self-love and embracing a positive mindset, we create an environment where our dreams can flourish. The word "yes" has intrinsic power as an affirmation and invitation to positive energy.

Key components:

• Love: Fuel and fan your dreams with self-love and love for the world
• Willingness: Be open to moving without proof and making yourself available
• Self-acceptance: Practice radical self-acceptance, including aspects you may dislike
• Energy: Recognize and manage your energy to support your creative dreams
• Inner allies and mentors: Cultivate supportive inner voices and seek guidance

Building your dream life. Embrace change and be willing to rebuild your life around your creative dreams. This process involves:

• Challenging your responses to change
• Balancing contraction and expansion
• Letting loose the wonders inside you
• Daring to be creatively fulfilled and successful

4. Implement MicroMOVEments: Small Steps Lead to Big Dreams

"A micromovement is a very tiny action that anyone can take toward some part of his or her creative dream."

Definition and power. MicroMOVEments are 5-second to 5-minute actions that can be easily accomplished. They create a habit of completion and help overcome procrastination and perfectionism. By breaking down larger tasks into small, manageable steps, we make progress on our dreams without feeling overwhelmed.

Implementing microMOVEments:

1. Choose a small action related to your dream
2. Write it down with a gentle date and time for completion
3. Complete the action
4. Celebrate the completion
5. Choose the next microMOVEment

Building momentum. As you complete more microMOVEments, you'll build confidence and momentum in pursuing your creative dreams. This approach allows for consistent progress, even when time or energy is limited.

5. Build a Support System: Nurture Your Dreams with Community

"Creative dreams love to be shared, and whatever dream you have, I can help you find other dreamers nearby."

Importance of support. A strong support system is crucial for nurturing and realizing creative dreams. It provides encouragement, accountability, and diverse perspectives that can help overcome obstacles and inspire new ideas.

Types of support:

• Friends and family: Educate them about your dreams and how they can best support you
• Creative dream teams: Form or join groups dedicated to supporting each other's dreams
• Mentors and teachers: Seek guidance from those who have experience in your field
• Self-support: Develop skills to nurture and encourage yourself

Creating a supportive environment. Be specific about the type of support you need and communicate clearly with your support network. Offer support to others as well, creating a reciprocal relationship that benefits everyone involved.

6. Commit and Keep Moving: Patience and Persistence Pay Off

"Commitment is what shelters and nourishes our dreams when we are crabbily avoiding, or once again procrastinating, or hiding from beginning because of our perfectionism."

Power of commitment. Making a strong commitment to your creative dreams provides a foundation of strength and motivation. This commitment can sustain you through challenges and setbacks, allowing you to return to your dream even when progress seems slow or difficult.

Strategies for persistence:

• Reassess and recommit regularly
• Change your perspective on time and its flexibility
• Use microMOVEments to keep dreams moving
• Keep dreams active and visible through sharing and visualization
• Develop patience and trust in the process

Balancing commitment and flexibility. While staying committed to your dreams is crucial, it's equally important to remain open to change and growth. Be willing to reassess and adjust your dreams as you gain new experiences and insights.

7. Learn from Others: Draw Inspiration from Creative Dreamers

"Each of our dreams touches another's dreams."

Power of shared experiences. Learning from others who are actively pursuing their creative dreams can provide invaluable insights, inspiration, and practical strategies. These stories remind us that we are not alone in our journey and that success is possible.

Lessons from creative dreamers:

• Embrace imperfection and learn from mistakes
• Persist through challenges and setbacks
• Adapt dreams as they evolve
• Find unique ways to blend passion with practicality
• Cultivate support systems and community

Creating your own story. As you pursue your creative dreams, remember that your journey is unique and valuable. Share your experiences with others to inspire and support fellow dreamers, creating a ripple effect of creativity and growth.

8. Face Challenges Head-On: Embrace Failure and Frustration

"Failure has a bad reputation. We become obsessed with success and forget that many failures made up that success."

Reframing challenges. Difficulties are an inherent part of pursuing creative dreams. By embracing these challenges, we can learn, grow, and ultimately strengthen our resolve and abilities.

Common challenges and strategies:

• Fear and loss: Recognize, identify, and address fears; honor losses as part of the process
• Doing things badly: Give yourself permission to experiment and learn
• Rebelling and nonconforming: Challenge societal norms that hinder creativity
• Guilt: Examine the roots of guilt and choose how to respond
• Failure: Welcome failure as a teacher and stepping stone to success
• Frustration: Develop new responses to frustration that promote growth
• Impatience: Practice patience and trust in the process

Growth through adversity. By facing these challenges head-on, we develop resilience, creativity, and problem-solving skills that not only benefit our dreams but also enrich our lives as a whole.

9. Nourish Yourself and Your Dreams: Practice Self-Care and Reflection

"If we are well nourished, our creative dreams will leap out to play and be seen."

Importance of self-nourishment. Caring for yourself is crucial to sustaining the energy and enthusiasm needed to pursue creative dreams. Self-nourishment involves both physical and emotional care, creating a strong foundation for creativity to flourish.

Nourishment strategies:

• Identify what truly nourishes you (e.g., nature, art, relationships)
• Practice self-care in nutrition, exercise, and rest
• Engage in activities that inspire and delight you
• Find nourishment in ordinary days and unexpected places
• Regularly assess and address your dreams' needs

Overcoming stagnation. When feeling stuck with your creative dreams, explore various strategies to reignite inspiration:

• Revisit your original motivation
• Try new approaches or techniques
• Seek input from your support system
• Take a break to gain fresh perspective
• Reassess and potentially revise your dream

10. Assess and Reassess: Guide Your Dream's Growth

"Creative dreams have their own energy and momentum and can lead or propel you to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do for yourself personally."

Stages of dream development. Understand that creative dreams evolve through various stages, from initial idea to full realization. Recognize which stage your dream is in to provide appropriate support and guidance.

Dream stages:

1. Egg (idea, beginning)
2. Hatched (made visible)
3. Infant (developing)
4. Toddler (growing, dependent)
5. Child (growing quickly)
6. Adolescent (becoming interdependent)
7. Adult (fully realized)

Guiding growth. Regularly assess and reassess your dream's progress and needs. Be willing to adapt your approach, seek new resources, or even redefine your dream as it evolves. Remember that growth is not always linear and that periods of apparent stagnation can be valuable for reflection and integration.

11. Manage and Grow Your Dreams: Develop Business Acumen

"Growth requires management."

Balancing creativity and management. As creative dreams grow, they often require more structured management. Develop your "inner manager" to complement your creative side, ensuring that your dreams can thrive and expand sustainably.

Key management skills:

• Team building: Assemble supportive individuals to help realize your vision
• Marketing: Learn to share your dream effectively with the world
• Financial planning: Develop basic business and financial literacy
• Time management: Balance dream pursuit with other life responsibilities
• Growth strategies: Plan for and guide your dream's expansion

Navigating success. Be prepared for the challenges that come with success, such as increased demands on your time and energy, potential isolation, and the need to maintain authenticity. Develop strategies to stay grounded and true to your original vision while embracing new opportunities.

12. Live Elegantly with Your Dreams: Embrace Change and Share Your Journey

"Declare yourself elegantly doing it now!"

Embracing elegance in the process. Living elegantly with your creative dreams means finding grace and style in all aspects of the journey, including the challenges and setbacks. Recognize that elegance is not about perfection, but about how you navigate the entire process.

Keys to elegant dream-living:

• Embrace change and remain open to new possibilities
• Cultivate self-care skills to support your growth
• Learn to work with energy effectively
• Join or start supportive communities
• Share your dreams and inspire others

Leaving a legacy. As you live your creative dreams, consider how you can share your journey and inspire others. By openly discussing your experiences, challenges, and successes, you contribute to a culture that values and nurtures creativity, encouraging others to pursue their own dreams.

Last updated: September 20, 2024