Inspiration for a joyful and creative life

"Dream Conversations" by Sally Evans

Making your dreams come true and living your desired and inspired life is an ongoing journey of discovery.  And a process.

Don’t you sometimes wish you could just push a magic button and everything would be perfect – now?

But it really isn’t about achieving one goal or one moment that defines your happiness or your life.  It is about the journey of discovery and the adventures and opportunities along the way.

I have spent a lot of time resisting the fears,  risks and even some of the joy and excitement along the way.  I have spent a lot of time getting in my own way.

Realizing that all the stages, including  failing, trying again, re-evaluating, re-inventing and refining goals are part of the process of living my dreams allows me to see it differently.

Just like the creative process which has it’s moments of excitement and momentum along with lulls and incubation.  It helps to know there are a myriad of stages and the feelings that go with it that allow you to continue to grow.

Your journey is usually a series of spirals and rarely ever a straight line.

Even though it might be frustrating – isn’t it comforting to know it’s not black and white? There isn’t a check point at the end of the line where someone stamps your Dream Card- granted or denied.

And if you are discovering and appreciating the journey along the path of your dreams, you’ll expect twists and turns along the way.  You won’t give up so easily when you encounter them, and you may even come to regard them as opportunities to grow.

Have you missed out on the opportunity to take time for what you love because you were busy doing things that don’t really matter?

I read a Dilbert cartoon the other day from a book called Dilbert Gives You the Business by Scott Adams that was a great lesson on spending your time wisely.

Dilbert’s boss tells him he is being sent to Elbonia to teach a class in COBOL computer programming. Dilbert says he doesn’t know anything about COBOL.

After several more frames of the boss trying to solve the wrong problem, Dilbert lands in Elbonia. The Elbonians tell him they don’t have any computers, to which he replies, “That’s ok. I don’t know COBOL.” He then proceeds to give them a four day class.

In this day and age, where we constantly have more to do than is humanly possible, it pays to stop and look at where you spend your time. There are so many things that demand our attention: our jobs, families, and other responsibilities.

Even though it may not feel like it, there is always some time that you get to make choices about how you’ll spend it. You owe it to yourself to spend some time on things that really matter to you. It could be a creative dream such as writing a fictional adventure, learning to play the guitar, or planting a beautiful garden.

Here is the hard part. If you wait until everything is cleaned, cooked, filed, delivered, rotated, or in perfect order, you may not have the energy, desire, or inspiration to do anything.

Even if by a miracle you find yourself with an hour or two of “free” time, you may find yourself starting at the blank page or frustrated that you can’t decide what to do.

I have a strong desire to see my in basket empty, my house clean and stack free, and a week’s worth of sumptuous meals ready to be whisked to the table set with linens and handmade fused glass dishes that I’ve made myself. Perhaps I should write fiction with this kind of imagination.

I am working on changing my relationship with time…more about that here.

So the answer is you can’t wait. When I do, I feel frustrated and grumpy. I feel like there is never enough time. I wonder when it will be legal to clone myself. I mutter that I never get to do what I want to do. Sound familiar?

Setting aside a little time, preferably each day, to do the things that matter to you, will ease the frustration and get you moving in the right direction.

You’ve been given the gift of time. Are you spending some time doing things that really matter to you?

This painting is by my husband, Greg Evans. www.evansart.com

This is a wrap up of the series “Ten Reasons NOT to have what you want”

All the reasons in the world of why you don’t have what you want are limiting beliefs and thoughts.

Most of them aren’t even true.

But no matter where they came from or the fears or doubts that they mask, you have the choice to take responsibility for turning things around.

Once you take responsibility, and notice when you are giving yourself the same excuses that have kept you from having what you want, you have the chance and the choice to change them.

It may take some time and it will probably feel unnatural and a bit uncomfortable at first.

Having a sense of humor along with a good dose of patience will help a lot.

“Don’t die with your music still inside you. Listen to your intuitive inner voice and find what passion stirs your soul”   -Wayne Dyer

I truly believe if there is something you love to do, it needs to be expressed in some way.

The one good reason to do what you love is that your life and the life of those you touch will be enriched.

It doesn’t have to be your profession.  It may be something you do as a volunteer.

It may be something you do in your spare time.  It may be something you simply share with those around you.

If you leave with your music still in you, the rest of us will be missing out.

If this resonates with you, you might enjoy this post from Steve Pavlina, who writes about personal development.

I hope this series has helped you get a different perspective on the reasons you stop yourself from having a life you love.

And the next time you say, “I can’t”, you’ll make a choice to say, “How can I create the life I want?” instead.