Trending Ideas for Building Your Dream Life Without Waiting for "Someday”

So you've been thinking about your dream life. Maybe you read my previous post and started getting a clearer picture of what you really want (if you missed it, go back and start there)!

But now you're stuck in that weird in-between place where you can see it…but you're not sure how to get there.

It’s such a common place to get stuck.

Half the advice out there makes it sound like you need to light a candle and focus harder, and the other half buries you in so many steps and frameworks that you need a weekend retreat to figure out where to start.

And by the way, I do love candles and going on retreats! But that’s not going to get it done.

Because here's what I think is really going on...

I know the obvious answers seem like money and time. And sure, they might be holding you back a bit.

But if I'm being straight up with you (and me), the thing that's kept me stuck the longest has never been money or time.

It's been laser-sharp direction. AND belief.

I spent years not being clear about what I wanted. I had this fuzzy idea of “more freedom” or “a better life” but I couldn't tell you what that looked like on a given day. And when you can't get specific, you can't move forward! You just stay in a loop.

Or worse, you regress.

And then there's the belief piece. I had a habit of waiting for conditions to be perfect before I'd go after something. I'll start that thing (fill in the blank) when I…(fill in the blank). When I finish the course. When I have more experience.

Is any of this starting to sound familiar?

I also spent a lot of time designing my dream life goals around what other people expected from me.

Why?!

Because it seemed like the right thing to do!

Question for you. Have you ever had the opportunity to make a change in your life? Something that excites you and that you’ve been curious about for a long time…and then you didn’t do anything about it? 

You played it safe because you were worried about what people would think. Kept on telling yourself it wasn't the right time. Only for years to circle back to that same opportunity, and when you finally went for it, the only thing you regretted was not doing it sooner.

I’m not judging at all, because I’ve been there, done that, wrote the book. The point is, the stuff standing in your way is probably not what you think it is.

Imagine that I’m shouting into a giant megaphone…

You're allowed to start living differently right now!

You don't need to hit some milestone before you're allowed to enjoy your life or make changes.

Unlike going on a road trip, your dream life isn’t a single spot on the map you’re heading to. It’s a direction! And you can start walking (or biking or driving) in that direction right now. This week. Literally, today if you want.

Here are some real things you can do. And no, this isn’t a ten-step system.

How does it start? Are you scrolling your phone for twenty minutes before your feet hit the floor? What if you swapped that for something that was productive and focused on you?

Even ten minutes of something constructive can change the whole tone of your day. If you need ideas, then this resource might be a good fit for you.

And more importantly, what you need to start saying no to. Every yes is a no to something else. If your calendar is full of stuff that makes you exhausted, then there's no room for the things that jazz you up.

Even if it's only one hour a week. Are you spending it on something that moves you toward the life you want? Or are you filling it with nonsense?

This one can be uncomfortable but it's important. Are the people around you cheering you on? Or are they holding you back? I’m not saying to cut anyone off (deep down you’ll know if you need to), but you might need to add some new voices to your world.

No, not what you're consuming. What you're actually building. A new skill, a side hustle, and additional source of income. A daily habit that compounds over time. (I've got a post on daily habits that goes deeper on this if you want it.)

Notice that each one on its own might not seem like much, but together, they add up fast. And they start to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Yes, I know "manifest" is a loaded word. Some people love it, some people roll their eyes. I'm…somewhere in the middle :-)

Here's what I think is true. Getting clear about what you want and keeping it in front of you really does work.

Because when you get specific about your dreams and goals, you’ll start looking for opportunities that you would've missed before. You start making different decisions. You start noticing doors you would've otherwise walked right past.

So yes, vision boards are great! Affirmations are great! Journaling about your dream life is great! (I've written about all of these if you want to dig in.) But I strongly believe that these all work best when you tie them to action.

The one thing that's made the biggest difference for me was deciding (yes, deciding) that I'm the kind of person who goes after what she wants. Not “I'll try.” Not “maybe someday.” This is who I am now. I'm someone who takes steps toward what I want, even if I trip and tumble, I’ll keep on going.

That's laser-focused direction plus belief plus action. Over and over again and over again.

Ok, I’m grabbing that megaphone again…

Your dream life is allowed to change!

The thing you wanted at twenty-five might not be the thing you want at thirty-five. The vision you had before kids might look totally different after them. That career goal you were so fired up about three years ago might not even interest you anymore!

That's called growth.

I've changed what I want more times than I can count. And each time, I felt a little guilty about it. Like it meant that I was unfocused.

But really, living your dream life means being 100% honest with yourself about what you want right now. So, please don’t hold yourself hostage to a version of your dreams that doesn't fit anymore.

Give yourself permission to update the vision. As many times as you need to.

Here's what I want to leave you with. I don’t think you need a perfect plan, or that you have to have it all figured out. C’mon, we’re human after all! Spend time getting honest about what you want, clear out some of the junk that's in the way, and begin taking steps in the right direction.

That's it!

And if you know someone who needs to hear this today, send it to them. Sometimes we all need to hear the right words at the right time to get going.