Do You Dare to Follow Your Dreams?

Dreaming is an unalienable right. We knew this as children. We believed we could be or do anything we imagined. Astronaut, Egyptologist, prima ballerina, mother of a dozen children, President of the United States – sure, why not? Unfortunately, as adults we often put our dearest dreams away, as life hands us unexpected challenges or circumstances and the harsh realities of economic necessity whittle away at our energy and our hopes. Dreaming truly becomes a dare. 

In her new book, Dare, Dream, Do, Whitney Johnson addresses the importance of dreaming for women. You must learn to create a time and a place to dream. Need help? Here’s how:

Step 1. Clear the clutter and create a space where you can dream: this space – or spot or place – can be a desk, an office, your car, or your bed. 

Step 2. More importantly, create a space in your day: this space – or time – can be early in the morning, after the kids go to school, while exercising, or late at night. Children make time (or we make them make time) to do homework. We need the same discipline. 

Get into the dreaming spirit by asking yourself these questions:

Why does making space for our dreams matter?
Do you have a space set aside for dreaming? Physical space? A time of day?
Why can practicing how to ask for what we want help us achieve our dreams?
Do you know any women who ask for what they want? How do they ask and do they succeed in getting what they asked for?
Do a quick review of the money you spend each month: How much is spent on your children’s dreams? Your spouse’s dreams? The dreams of your extended family, friends, the world? How much is spent on yours?
As you think about making space for your dream, are you finding yourself uncomfortable, unnerved, even physically sick?

Excerpted with permission from Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Can Happen When You Dare to Dream by Whitney L. Johnson (Bibliomotion, 2012).