I was watching a student the other day in complete awe of the growth she’s made over the past few years. Certainly as a youth she’s physically matured and is much taller! But, what I noticed was an emotional awareness and maturity that suddenly came together as if weaved into the finest Navajo blanket. I thought to myself, “Wow, I sure am blessed to be a witness!”
Being a part of and watching this student’s growth hasn’t been an easy road, but it has been a road that I love to travel. This is the road that I call The Dream Life. Perhaps some of us, when we think of the dream life we’ve always desired, we conjure up dreamy items like a nice car, house, the perfect family, etc. Then there are others of us that are still figuring out what our true dream life really is and what it’s supposed to look like.
I’ve talked to many of you that don’t like your job. You are fed up with the stress of your lifestyle or you are just not happy with your current relationships whether they are platonic or romantic. I’ve also had quite a few conversations with some of you that indicate if you had all the money in the world you would live here, there, and everywhere.
What I’m learning is that the dream life isn’t out there in some object or person, but rather it’s a feeling we get when we are in relationship to another person, place, or thing. The dream life nurtures and invokes boundless untouchable graces in our life. It’s the stuff on the inside that motivates us, brings us joy, gives us purpose and vision. If you are living a great percentage of your day without this feeling, it’s very likely you are not living the dream life, but the dreaded life!
A lot of us seek security in what we do. We want the big shiny package regardless of what that big shiny package does to the core of our being. Sure there’s balance to everything. And, relatively speaking, some security is good. If we embark on an endeavor, we require support to see it to fruition. When we go to work, we like to know that whatever input goes in, we expect some kind of monetary output.
Yet, that being said, the dream life has us put our well being at the center of all of our decisions and material life last. The dream life isn’t an easy road to travel, but I do wake up feeling empowered each day of my life. I can’t imagine living any other way and experiencing the amount of joy I do on a daily basis.
It’s simple and yet it’s not so simple. I dream big and do the work. Are you ready to take the adventure of your life and do the work?
Stay tuned for my follow-up piece, Dream Big and Do the Work, for practical tips to achieve the life your heart has been burning to live.
In the words of Jesse Owens, American track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold medalist, “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort!”
I will take a deep breath to that!
Om Shanti Om ~ Athea
