You feel like you need a change. But how do you overcome the overthinking and overwhelm and discover the clarity needed to name your dream? That “someday” dream where we say, “I would love to do (fill in your blank) someday, but…(insert your reason here).”
It’s much easier to come up with excuses than to name our dream.
Are you feeling burned out, longing for something different but feeling like your passion is clouded by overthinking and overwhelm? You just don’t know where to start?
You can overcome these obstacles gain clarity, and name the dream you have always wanted to pursue.
It’s not that things are necessarily bad now. Maybe you are in a successful, but unfulfilling career. Or your kids are more independent and moving out not needing mom as much anymore. Perhaps you have always wanted to start your own business, travel, or have time to volunteer.
Let’s do a case study on my client, Sarah. She is in her late 40s and is a Senior Marketing Manager. She is feeling burned out by the grind of going to work and hustling every day. She has worked her way up the corporate ladder but now feels trapped.
Sarah says, “I dread Mondays. It feels like I spend all my time at work Monday through Friday, and on the weekends, I do the laundry, clean the house, grocery shop to pack my weekday lunches, binge Netflix on the couch, and go to bed. Monday comes all too soon and I’m not getting anywhere. I’m not sure what I want to do but I know it’s not this.”
Whatever your someday dream is for you, the starting point is identifying and exploring your mindset, skillset, and toolset.
Step 1. Your mindset: exploring your desires
It’s important to delve into your desires. What is it that truly excites you?
For Sarah, it involved personal development, wellness, and creative hobbies like painting and writing.
Ask yourself:
- What activities make you lose track of time?
- What subjects do you find yourself reading about or discussing passionately?
- When do you feel most energized and fulfilled?
Desires often point toward your true passions and can guide you in naming your dream.
Sarah’s interest in wellness and personal growth suggested a dream related to helping others achieve balance and fulfillment.
Step 2. Your skillset: Identify your gifts, talents, and skills
The next step in naming your dream is to reflect on your gifts, talents, and skills.
Sarah, like many others, has a wealth of experience in her professional and personal life.
To start, consider the following:
- Gifts: These are the natural abilities you possess.
- Sarah, for instance, has a gift for connecting with people and understanding their needs, a crucial skill in marketing and a valuable asset in any career.
- Talents: These are the things you excel at, often with less effort than others.
- Sarah is talented in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and creative brainstorming, all of which are essential for a successful career shift.
- Skills: These are the abilities you’ve developed over time through education and experience.
- Sarah’s skills include project management, digital marketing, and content creation.
Think about the things that your friends or coworkers come to you for advice about. What do they ask for your help with?
You often don’t recognize your own gifts and talents because they come easily to you.
Step 3. Your toolset: Reflect on your past experiences
Your past experiences hold valuable clues to your dream. Look for common threads in your career and personal life.
Sarah noticed that throughout her career, she has always gravitated towards roles that involve mentoring and coaching her team members. This pattern can indicate a deeper passion for guiding others towards their goals.
- What roles or projects have you enjoyed the most?
- What feedback have you received from colleagues and friends about your strengths?
- How have your experiences shaped what you would like to do next?
By connecting these dots, you can identify recurring themes that point toward your dream.
Step 4. Define your dream
Now that you’ve identified your mindset, skillset, and toolset, and the common thread in your experiences, it’s time to define your dream.
This is where you give your dream a name and make it feel real and attainable.
For Sarah, her dream was to become a certified life coach specializing in helping women overcome burnout and achieve work-life balance. By naming her dream, Sarah transformed it from an abstract idea into a concrete goal.
Step 5. Create a roadmap
With a named dream, the next step is to create a roadmap to achieve it. This involves setting clear, actionable steps that will lead you toward your goal.
Here’s how I helped Sarah approach this:
1. Research: Sarah learned about the requirements for becoming a certified life coach and chose the program that was the best fit for her. Look into certification programs, necessary training, and industry standards.
2. Set Milestones: Break down the journey into manageable milestones. For Sarah, this included enrolling in a certification program, completing her training, and gaining initial coaching experience.
3. Build a Support System: Join communities and networks of like-minded individuals. This can provide invaluable support, accountability, and inspiration. Sarah joined online groups, attended workshops and retreats, and connected with other aspiring coaches.
4. Take Action: Start with small, consistent steps. Sarah began while still in her 9-5 job by coaching friends and colleagues informally, gradually building her confidence and skills.
Step 6. Overcome obstacles
As you pursue your dream, you’ll inevitably encounter obstacles and fears. It’s crucial to address these challenges head-on. Like any journey, don’t get sidetracked by detours and construction. Obstacles may look like:
• Fear of Failure: Remind yourself that failure is a part of growth. Each setback is a set-up, an opportunity to learn and improve.
• Imposter Syndrome: Recognize that everyone starts somewhere. Trust in your abilities and the value you bring to others.
• Balancing Responsibilities: Prioritize your dream and allocate time for it, even if it means making sacrifices in other areas.
Are you ready to be intentional about naming your dream and taking the steps to make it attainable?
Join My One-Hour Virtual Workshop: “Name Your Dream”
Ready to take the first step towards naming your dream and making it a reality? Join our one-hour virtual workshop, “Name Your Dream”. In this workshop, you’ll:
✅ • Gain clarity on your passions and strengths
✅ • Learn practical tools to overcome overthinking and overwhelm
✅ • Connect with a supportive community of like-minded individuals
✅ • Create a personalized roadmap to achieve your dream
🤷♀️ Don’t let overthinking and overwhelm keep you from pursuing the passion and life you deserve.
Sign up today and start your journey towards a more fulfilling future.
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