Dream On

What is the difference between a dream and a goal? In my opinion, a dream is something you desire that is so lofty it’s impossible to reach in real life. However, a goal is something you strive to achieve. Something you apply yourself to in order to obtain it in real life. If you spend your time dreaming of future achievements rather than goal-setting, you might find that, in the end, all you’ve done is build castles in the sky. And as much as I love daydreaming, doing nothing but that is a big fat waste of time.

So, how do you turn your dreams into your goals? First of all, decide what your dream is. Do you dream of owning your own business? Buying your first home? Losing thirty pounds? Whatever it is, spell it out. Be specific, but don’t limit your possibilities. By this, I mean don’t develop a laundry list of criteria to meet. Instead, focus on what your goal will mean to you. How will achieving your goal change your life?

For example, if you make a statement like, “I plan to lose thirty pounds by October,” you might be limiting yourself to only that type of success. Instead, describe your dream in terms of how achieving it will make you feel. Something like, “I plan to feel stronger, have more energy and look sexy in and out of my clothes,” doesn’t limit you to only losing thirty pounds. Sure, if you lose the weight, you’ll probably be stronger, have more energy and look sexier. But if you make your goal more about how you’ll feel rather than achieving some rigid number, you may find that you meet or even surpass your goal more easily.

The next step is to research what it takes to accomplish your goal. Put the time in to come up with a real plan, one that is manageable in a reasonable period of time. Don’t set goals so far out into the future that you’ll lose track of them while trying to achieve them. Instead, set baby goals that lead up to a bigger goal. So, if your goal is to feel stronger, have more energy and look sexier, figure out an exercise and nutrition plan to achieve that. Then set small goals designed to get yourself there.

Again, don’t focus on the number. Focus on actions that will get you the results you’re looking for. Maybe meeting your weight loss goal means cycling three times a week paired with two yoga classes while limiting processed foods. Then focus on achieving those goals each week, rather than striving to lose 2 pounds each week. You probably will lose 2 pounds, but if you’re only focused on the number, you can easily lose sight of the real benefit.

And once you’ve met your goal, celebrate it. Own it. And then set another one. Because we all have dreams, but unless we make plans to reach them, that’s all they’ll ever be.

So, what are your dreams?