Dream Big

I came across this incredible woman. Don’t ask me how that goes. Usually one person is mentioned by another who then again recommends someone else. That’s how I met Mel Robbins.

Of course I didn’t really meet her. I didn’t even read her books (yet). I suffer from the too-little-time-too-much-to-read syndrom. Maybe you suffer from it too? Or maybe you just don’t have the time or the will to pick up a book? That’s where I come in. I share with you the things that inspire me, that help me grow, that help me feel good. Adding all the links to podcasts and the references to the books, you can dig in deeper if you like! Or maybe you already know enough reading my blog 😉

Back to Mel Robbins. She is about my age, and has only recently started to live her dream : becoming the best podcaster in the world. She is the example of the idea she stands for : no one is never too old to live their dream. How great is that?

Her language is sweeping, she pulls you in and sends you forward. She drags her own battles in as examples. Talks about her own life and struggles. There is no ignoring her. When you think that particular podcast you want to hear is too long, I can assure you it’s finished before you know it. It’s like a suspense movie. She drags you in and takes you along.

Now I want to mention this one particular episode, which she calls heroic. It is, it’s meant to make you feel heroic.

Failure is never the end of a heroes story. Often times it’s the beginning of one.
quoted by Mel Robbins

She talks about dreams, how they are inside of you, always. They never, ever go away. Even if you claim you are too old, the dreams are too big, they are impossible to attain. You think you are not clever enough, not talented enough. Very often your dreams are downplayed by you, of all people! But you need to dream big.

“But what if the dream I chase doesn’t work out?”, you might say.

But what if it does?

Let your light be so bright that other people find their way in the darkness.
quoted by Mel Robbins

When it comes to our dreams, we very often put a lid on ourselves. We think we are not good enough, and what will other people say? We don’t allow ourselves to want what we want, and often don’t even give ourselves permission to dream!

But there is a simple (and proven) way to get out of this. Every single morning, while you are having a coffee, you are going to write down 5 dreams each and every single day. Make it a habit by writing it by hand on a piece of paper, or in a journal if you have one.

Do not overthink it. Just do it. Write down 5 things you want. It might be just about anything. Big or small, easy to reach or impossible, realistic or not, short or long term. They can be the same every day. Or maybe they are different. Maybe you wish for a million dollar, or maybe you just wish your kids would clean up their rooms. Whatever.

Writing that down every day will unblock you. When you get your dreams into the world (by writing them down) they already start living. You open the lid and they start a life. Get your desires flowing again!

Then there is the Zeigarnik effect. Whenever there is something important to you, your brain opens up a mental checklist -call it a to do list- and will now help you remind you what is important to you. So writing your dreams down is literally taking the lid off yourself : it puts your brain into action. You are giving your dreams a chance, even if it is merely unconsciously!

But of course that’s not ‘it’. The simple fact of writing them down will not make them come true. Because just like every human being, you are going to play them down, make fun of them, make excuses, and become afraid. But do not let that happen!

You have to be for your dream, not against it. Believe in it. Your dreams are no jokes. They are not funny. They are part of your DNA. Your dreams remind you that there is something greater ahead. They help you to get through challenging times.

Your dreams are not the destination, but they are a pathway, the road to.
They are hope.

Fan the flame. Chase your dreams. And go for it!

Writing down your 5 dreams every morning is part of her “how to high five yourself every day“, download the journal template for free.
Or listen to this podcast episode “giving up is not an option, the motivation you need to hear right now“. You can also follow her on instagram