Lamisha Serf-Walls

Dream Discovery Pt. 2- Exercises

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Yesterday I talked about the two types of people that generally have trouble defining their dreams; the Reality Seekers and the Survivors.  Today, I want to give you some exercises that anyone can use to help get your imagination going in order to make room for your aha moment.

4 Ways To Find Your Passion

Set Your Intention:  Sometimes all it takes is mentally setting the intention to find your passion.  Maybe you want to write it down as a formal goal or create an affirmation that states you want to remain open to discovering your dreams.  However you choose to set the intention, do it.  Simply deciding that you want to do something sets the energy in motion enough that seemingly miraculous events take place to catapult you toward what you desire.

Meditate:  I know I have talked about the benefits of meditation, but I have to mention it again.  Meditation allows you to calm your mind and be open to inspirational ideas, thoughts, and inklings that will guide you along your journey.  If you aren’t sure how to meditate or find it difficult to sit still for even 5 minutes, check out guided meditations online.  You can find some really great videos and information that will help you get to a regular meditation practice.  Often when our minds are so cluttered with day-to-day responsibilities, we don’t hear the little voice inside that is giving us the information we need.  When you quiet your mind, you release the resistant thoughts that keep your inspiration at bay.

Make a List: Sometimes when we aren’t sure what we want it helps to create a clarity list*.  It is very easy to do and can provide a ton of information for what you really want in your life.  Simple take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle.  On the left side include things you don’t want and on the right side list what you do want.  Using your life experience, make a list of items you don’t want. For instance, if you are looking for a passionate career, you might say “I don’t want a boss that is a micro-manager” and that might mean “I want to be my own boss or have the freedom to do my work independently”.  Make the list as long as you need to in order to provide some clarity to what you want.  Once it is complete fold the paper back and look at the items you have listed for what you want.  Now you have a starting point for your discovery process.
*This exercise is one Michael Losier uses in his Law of Attraction books.  For more information click here.*

Have Fun: You may be wondering how having fun can lead you to a life of your dreams, however if you are like me, when I am trying to figure something out, I can get a little obsessive about it.  I find myself searching and thinking and worrying about it far more than I should.  This only creates more resistance in your thought process and can inhibit your inspiration completely.  Sometimes to gain momentum you have to not try so hard.  That can be difficult for some of us to learn since we have been taught that if you want something you have to work really hard at it.  That’s not always (or mostly) true.  Often when you are having fun and thinking about something entirely different, you get a major aha moment that sparks your interest and inspiration.  So if you find yourself thinking about this too much, take a step back and go do something else.

While these exercises may seem pretty simple you will be amazed at what they can do.  I hope they help you move toward the discovery of your dreams and if there is anything I can do to help let me know!

Happy Dreaming!

The Importance of Owning Your Dream

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How many of you have had a dream, but you wouldn’t dare share it with anyone else for fear they may laugh or dismiss the possibility of it coming to fruition.  Maybe you have some doubts about making your dream a reality and would just as much forget the whole thing altogether.

Many of us have been there before as we wonder if we can really live the life of our dreams.  We think about it very timidly because we don’t want to get our hopes up too much and be disappointed in the long run, but in order for your dreams to become reality, you have to own them.

Why?

Because by simply setting your intention and focus on that which you desire, you automatically begin flowing energy toward it. 

It is almost like setting a specific goal.  Say you want to run a marathon and it has been something you have thought about for a while, but never really declared to yourself that you would do it.  Instead of beginning your training, this idea is nothing more than a whim that comes and goes without much energy or inspiration behind it.

But, when you say I intend to run a marathon, it becomes more real.  And the more you focus on it, the more you think about it.  The more you think about it, the more inspirational nuggets you find along your journey that will lead you to completing the marathon.

Dreams are the same way.  You have to own them and make them real to yourself.  Instead of saying “I would love to writ a book, eventually…”, declare it.  Set the intention that you will do it.  That doesn’t mean shouting it from the rooftops and sharing your dream with any person that will listen.  That can actually cause your dream to fizzle out before your fire get’s going.  (More on that in a later post.)

Declare your dream.  Visualize it.  Feel it.  See it.  Imagine it.  Feel the amazing delicious energy that stems from it and milk that feeling for as long as it lasts.

Well all have dreams, but if we don’t own up to them, they are nothing more than passing thought that may never come to be.  Take the first step and declare that you will achieve the life of your dreams.  Only you have the power to make that happen, so why not start now?

Delegating The Dream Details

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I have often mentioned that I am a recovering “do-er”, meaning I far too often attempt to use action to make things happen instead of allowing them to happen naturally.  I guess it stems from the mentality that “if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself”, however time and time again I have learned that isn’t always true.  Sometimes the missing pieces fill in perfectly when I give my project the breathing room it needs.  The missing piece may come in the form of a quiet thought while I am focused on something else, or it comes from someone else entirely.  Either way I am learning that I don’t always have to make things happen and that goes for the details of my dreams as well.

Have you ever woken up from a dream with a knowing of what happened, but the details are fuzzy?  You can feel what happened and in some cases you can see the big picture but can’t quite make out the details.  That’s how it can feel when you are inspired to achieve your life dreams.  Often we find ourselves very aware of the big picture.  We know what we want in the end.  We can see it in our minds and feel the deliciousness in our soul, but the details that lead to that big picture are fuzzy.  Some are even invisible.

I am in that space in regards to my coaching business.  I can visualize the end result and the many services and goodies I want to offer my clients, yet many of the details have yet to fill in.  I even found myself moving into “do-er” mode last night while trying to research some of the details.  Not only was the action not inspired action, but it just felt forced.  I realized I was forcing the details to fill in and based on my previous experience, forcing them is never a good idea.  Sure it might get done, but it won’t be without some unnecessary headaches and frustration.  Remembering that, I stopped in my tracks and let it go.

Or so I thought.

This morning I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should be doing something in regards to some of the details.  See, my old thought processes are kicking into gear and becoming impatient with my progress.  The deeper part of me knows that all is well and things are moving along beautifully, however the “do-er” is pulling her hair out.  She would ask a million questions about “how”, “when”, and “who” if I let her, however I have done a pretty good job of keeping those thoughts at bay.  I know my dream is coming together perfectly and that the details will fill in accordingly, but what about the “do-er”?  I had to figure out a way to appease that part of me that wants to make lists and action steps and all that jazz.  So, here’s what I did…

I made a list, but the list was not for me to worry about.  It was a list to the Universe (insert God, Goddess, Energy, whatever tickles your fancy).  On this list are some of the details the “do-er” can’t seem to let go of.  Instead of worrying about them day in and day out, I am letting go of my control over them.  I am accepting and trusting the fact that they will be handled appropriately and only when I am ready to deal with the details (through inspired action and inspirational nuggets), will I take control of them.  Until then, they are out of my hands.

Think of it as delegating tasks.  When the details begin to get overwhelming, delegate.  I am choosing to keep the things on my “list”, that inspire, delight, and motivate me to continually make progress.  The Universe can handle the rest.  And when the time is right, I trust that the details my “do-er” has been stressing about, will fill in beautifully and all will be well.

Far too often we allow the details to overwhelm our excitement and passion for our dreams.  We allow reality as we see it to limit our beliefs and thinking in such a way that it stalls our forward movement.  But, what if instead of worrying about the “how”, we allow it to be revealed to us in perfect timing?  That isn’t to say we get lazy with our dreams, it simply means to keep the vision and motivation alive while not getting bogged down with the idea that we have to figure it all out right this moment.  The truth is we don’t.  All will be revealed in perfect timing.

The vision you hold and the good feelings that stem from your dreams will lead you effortlessly to the “how”.  You just have to have a little faith and delegate the details to the Universe to figure out.

When Inspiration Fades

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It is an awesome feeling to following your inspiration into action.  The fire is burning and you just can’t help but feel energized and uplifted.  But what happens when inspiration plummets?  How can we invoke that inspirational spark that moves us in the direction of our dreams?

There are a number of things you can do to bring that inspirational spark back into your life as long as you don’t try too hard.  I have found that when I am feeling anxious about something and really feel like I need something to happen almost out of desperation, it makes it that much more difficult to grasp.

Here is what I have found to work for me:

  • Take a break- If you have been thinking about something or have been working on a project for a long period of time and are getting more frustrated by the minute, sometimes taking a step back from it can help you regroup and allow your ideas to breathe.  I find this particularly useful when I am writing or doing choreography.  Sometimes I am just not in the flow and leaving it for a few hours or days can make all the difference in the world.
  • Meditate-You may be wondering how slowing your thoughts can lead to more ideas and creativity, but when you give your mind a little break from thought after thought after thought, you allow the space that is needed for ideas to flow into your consciousness.  Not sure what your next step is in achieving your dreams?  Meditate with the intention to allow thoughts to come and go and if you don’t get the answer you are looking for, that’s ok.  It may come to you after meditation or on another day.  By giving your mind a break you are simply inviting inspiration to come.
  • Read- I love to read and am always reading other blogs, books, and articles for inspiration.  I don’t look for a specific idea, but I find I am drawn to exactly what I need to read at exactly the right moment (similar to the inspiration nuggets).  If you are stuck on a particular writing project, read the work of authors you enjoy.  If you aren’t sure where to move forward in your business venture, research others in your same business and see what they are doing.  This is not meant to replicate what they are doing, but it can often get the creative juices flowing again.
  • Get out in nature- Spend some time outdoors.  Go for a walk, a hike, or a run to get the blood pumping.  Allow the natural rhythm of the great outdoors to soothe your mind and feed your soul.  You may find that as you look at your surroundings ideas come to you easily.  Maybe Mother Nature will provide you with an idea or two as you revel in her beauty.  I love spending time outside and I find it helpful to just get away from the office and my computer for a while to refresh my thoughts.
  • Let it go- I often have a tendency to obsess over a problem until I have found the solution.  More specifically if I want to do something I need to know how I am going to do it.  I am learning that if I just let it go for a while and think about something else, I let go of the resistance that is keeping the solution from me.  Sometimes when you are searching for something you only find it when you stop looking.  (Ever lost your keys only to find them when you stop looking for them 2 hours later??)  This doesn’t mean let go of your idea, your goal, or your dreams, but sometimes we need to allow the Universe to work some magic for us.  So, let it go for a bit.
  • Get happy-Take some time to do something you enjoy.  Read a book, watch a movie, take a nap, or write a list of things you are grateful for.  Often taking some time to do something you utterly enjoy can take the frustration out of a creative block and you might be surprised where your next ideas come from.  I often get ideas or confirmations from things I read, movies, or in a conversation I have with someone.  It is amazing how easily inspiration flows when you are in a relaxed and happy state.  So, what are you waiting for??? Get happy!
  • Be open- You never know where your next inspirational nugget will come from so by simply setting the intention to be open to any and all forms of inspiration, you are inviting those nuggets to flow your way.  Go about your daily routine knowing that your inspiration will return and just be open to what may show up.  You may be surprised to find where your inspiration comes from.

What do you do when you need a boost in inspiration?

The Life Force of Dreams

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Image courtesy of mobilebeat.com
Image courtesy of mobilebeat.com

I think many will agree that the best ideas, inventions, and creations are fueled with a good dose of inspiration.  You know the feeling you get when you just can’t help but act on a given task.  Often inspiration comes as a surge of energy as the mind is flooded with ideas.  Blood begins pumping through the body and there is an incredible excitement and liveliness in the room.  For some, this kind of inspiration gives a burst of energy and then tapers off leaving a very small portion of the initial surge.  Other times the surge is followed by consistent inspirational nuggets that keep the inspiration alive and well.

There are many times when I have had all three scenarios, but it seems lately I am falling into the third category as I follow the inspirational nuggets (as I like to call them) that lead me to my next step.

Before I go any further let me give you my definition of an inspirational nugget.

Inspirational Nugget–a bit of information, a quote, a word, a book, or anything that gives you an “aha” moment that ultimately leads you into action. 

Simply put they are the life force behind achieving your dreams.

I find that my nuggets typically come in conversations I have with others or in books, blogs, or other websites I am reading and they often come at a time when my surge of inspiration is dwindling.  They may be a quote that relates to exactly what I am thinking about for a certain project or I might read something and immediately come up with the perfect words for something I have been thinking about for several days or in some cases months.

The perfect example of this is came when I tried to name my blog.  Before I began my blog (for the third time), I had set the intention of creating something that would inspire others through my journey, but I was struggling to find just the right name.  I had mulled it over for months, making lists of words and phrases that I thought would be good to use, but none of them really jumped out at me.  One day without thinking about my blog directly, the words “Life Once Dreamt” came to me.  I couldn’t believe it, after months of working to find a name, the moment I let go of the need to find a name, it came to me.  And when they did, I didn’t have to think twice about it because I knew it was right.

Let’s look at another example (completely fictional):

Meet Suzy.  Suzy has a dream to start a little coffee shop with tons of character and charm except she isn’t sure where to begin.  She day dreams about what it will look like and every time she steps foot in a coffee shop, she imagines the day she will step foot into her very own.  Thinking she has to do things the “logical” way, she begins asking other business owners how they started.  Did they go to business school?  Were they the number #1 barista at another coffee shop first?  The “logical” way seemed so difficult, not to mention expensive and totally uninspiring.  Just when she was about to give up, she sees a sign for a workshop for new business owners (nugget #1).  The workshop is free and though she isn’t a business owner yet, she thought she might gain some insight into owning her own business.  While at the workshop she meets another attendee (Sid) that quickly becomes her friend(nugget #2).  Together they discuss their business ideas, dreams, and dilemmas.  During one conversation about getting the money together to start her business, Sid shares some information with Suzy about business investors and tells her about an investor she knows about named Jack(nugget #3).  Remembering information about business plans she just read on an entrepreneur blog(nugget #4), she puts her plan together to present to Jack.  Suzy and Jack hit it off and he agrees to fund her business…1 year and 100 nuggets later, Suzy walks into her coffee shop for the very first time and realizes she is now living her dream.

That’s how magical these inspirational nuggets are.  They come seemingly out of the blue at just the right moment providing you with the fuel you need to keep moving forward, often in a direction you never thought about.  Some call it Divine Intervention or the Law of Attraction bringing to us the tools we need to make our dreams reality, but where ever you believe these inspirational nuggets come from, one thing for sure, they should not be wasted.  So the next time you get an inspirational hit, savor it and milk it for all it’s worth, for if you do I promise you will make great progress toward your dreams.

When was the last time you received an inspirational nugget and how did it come to you?  I would love to hear about your experiences.