Do you have one of those friends who always seem to have it together? Everything they do works out for them? They are super “lucky?” Well, maybe they are (and if so you want them to be buying your lottery tickets) but it’s more likely they probably figured out long ago the power of manifestation. I want to retire early and someday live on a sailboat full time. So how am I making that dream come true? Vision, focus, hard work and an un-wavering commitment to making sure it happens. It’s not easy, but it’s totally worth the effort! Here are 8 steps to help you live the dream!
- Write it down, tell people, say it out loud. Set a date.
These are proven methods to hitting any goal. Writing things down and telling others about them causes a mental shift in your brain giving the idea structure and priority. Setting a date makes it real!
- Surround yourself with daily reminders of your dream; maintain your focus.
If you’re a visual person, it’s fun to make a “Dream Board.” Designate a book, poster, wall space, etc. and fill it with pictures, words and mementos’ that remind you of where you see yourself. In my office, I have large framed photos of my sailboat on the water and a palm tree lined beach in Maui. My calendar has pictures of blue water sailboats and I wear my own W.I.S.H. bracelet to constantly remind me of where I’m going. (You can get your custom W.I.S.H jewelry – coming soon!!)
- Visualize yourself realizing your dream- really feel what it will be like.
Absolutely believe in it. Refuse to accept that it is not possible. By making it a reality, you will start to make decisions in your life that will automatically guide you in the direction of your dream. Spend 5 minutes every day and “see” yourself doing what you dream. Every day, try to add one more detail to the vision. For me, it’s the warm feel of sunshine on my shoulders or the smell of Caribbean food cooking off in the distance. The sharper your vision, the more real it will be in your mind.
- Research- Get inspired! Find others who are doing it and how they got there.
Look for stories, blog posts, podcasts and other people who are doing what you want to do and then immerse yourself in that.
- Create your road map. Ask yourself: “How do I get from where I am now to where I want to be?”
What’s the plan? Start at the end and work your way backwards so you understand all the steps you need to take to get there. When we decided to live on a boat we set our launch date then worked backwards. Our first step was to go to the Annapolis Boat Show and check out what type of boat we thought we wanted and if we could see ourselves living in a small space.
- Keep focusing on the outcome and take it step-by-step.
Plans are met to change, and I believe change is life’s gentle way of guiding you towards what’s right for you. Keep the end goal in site, but be flexible and open to life’s lessons along the way. You may find that what once seemed like a setback was actually a better way to get there.
- Persist andbe patient. Don’t give up!
Where would we be if Edison had given up on inventing the lightbulb? As an inventor, he made 1,000 attempts at creating the first bulb. When asked by a reporter “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The lightbulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
- GO FOR IT!!
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly.” ~Robert F. Kennedy