I’m a dreamer. I’m not the only one. Like me, some of you may dream of a variety of things. In my 20s, I dreamed of being a rock & roll star. In my 40s, I dreamed of being a best-selling author. In my 50s, I dream of a quiet place.
Throughout history there have been many dreamers. They often get a bad rap. We’re told that dreaming is a waste of time. And it can be. But nearly every action starts with an idea. Dreamers are good at coming up with ideas. But it doesn’t have to stop there.
Going from Dreamer to Doer
Okay, so I never became a rock & roll star. None of my books have sold more than a few hundred copies. But I got that shit done. I may not be famous, but I studied the art of songwriting and wrote songs with the best of them. Only about 1% of the world’s population publishes a book. I can say I’m in that 1%.
As I get older, I care less about the fame and money part of the equation. Instead, I’m considering how I’ll live out my golden years. Currently, I spend too much time studying real estate markets and the cost of living in a variety of places around the country. But I still have a few years. I’m in the dream stage.
Being a dreamer is not bad. Knowing how and when to set your dreams into action is what’s important. And when you’re ready, you can dream new realities into existence. Here’s how:
6 Stages from Dreaming to Doing
- Know what you want: One problem dreamers have is that we’re known to change our minds. One day we want to be a rock & roll star, and the next we want to be a pilot. In order to bring a dream to fruition, you have to have a specific dream.
- Dream awhile: Despite what some people think, dreaming is not always a waste of time. Using our imagination to see a life we’d like to live plants a seed. In my 30s, I wanted to work in radio. I went to school and I did it. Then I dreamed of working in higher education. Done.
- Do your research: Once you’ve dreamed about that tropical vacation for awhile, do some research. Maybe you think it’s outside of your budget. But you’ll never know until you check. I used to think I could never buy a house. When I actually looked into it, I discovered it was much easier than I’d ever expected.
- Understand timing: Some dreams may never come true. That’s life. But some dreams need to stay in the dream stage longer than others. I’m currently doing my research about places where I might retire. But I can’t take action yet. I have a kid I have to help get through high school and into college.
- Think outside of the box: But not so fast. There are actually ways I can take action on my retirement dreams now. I can travel to places I’m considering living. I can look for jobs in those same regions. (Who says I have to stay where I am until I retire?) And I could buy real estate now. I could get a vacation home, a condo, or a rental property.
- Take action: I haven’t quite reached the point of taking action, but I will. I’ve done it before. I considered selling my house to pay off all other debt for two years. One day, I woke up and started the process. Now I’m debt free.
I’ve never been a huge goal-setting person. Instead, I dream my new realities into existence. How do you know when to take action? You don’t. But if you stay focused and work your way through the first five stages above, a day will come when you’ll just take that step. At least that’s how it’s worked for me.
What’s Your Dream?
Is there something you’ve really wanted to do for awhile? Maybe you want to practice yoga. Maybe you want to live abroad. Or perhaps you want to learn how to play the piano. You can do any of those things.
Chances are fair you’ve already been through the first two stages of dreaming to doing. You’ve decided you want to do something, and you’ve dreamed awhile. But you might lack the confidence to follow through. This is why the research stage is so important. Learning about the thing we’ve been dreaming about brings it one step closer to reality.
I encourage you to be a dreamer. It’s okay. But don’t stop at the dream stage. Know how to dream new realities into existence by doing the research, thinking outside of the box, and taking action. What are you waiting for? New realities await you.
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