Dreams are not always about the activity of sleeping through and barely remembering them. I believe we all have dreams of becoming someone we want to be. It’s almost like a secret code that our Maker has locked deep within us i.e. for us to find.
Why not try this rather practical exercise to unlock your dreams?
It’s simply a matter of taking some time out, an hour or two, one Saturday or Sunday morning[1] and thinking deeply, almost meditatively about words or work pictures that describe what, how, when, why or who you eventually want to be. Twenty five is the notional figure, but you might stop at ten, or even go beyond twenty five.[2]
The key is about getting really specific around what purpose, spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences[3] you have, and what that might mean in terms of your life calling.
This is about getting a picture image for your life within your mind that you can strive for. And this will be done by continually reflecting on your words or word pictures as an activator toward undertaking the behaviours that produce the right results (consequences) you intend. (Yes, this is basic behavioural psychology 101[4]--it’s called the ABC Model, for the Activator-Behaviour-Consequence phenomenon.)
So, if you wished to lose weight, the word “slim” might be one appropriate word to consider; but you should be even more specific than that. Find a better, more meaningful word or word picture. You might think of someone else’s body you admire and it might be that person’s body picture that might motivate you--because there is a specific thing you like. Discover what that thing you admire is, so you can strive for it, and not simply replicate what they have. Just ensure it’s achievable for you, that’s all.
If the example were life balance, because stress were an issue, you might take the word, “carefree” or “balanced”... again, try and be as specific as you can be. Make this exercise conform to your mind and heart.
This is a process of envisioning the future you want. It’s part of God’s design that we respond to his call; the call he places into every heart.
Copyright © 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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ENDNOTES:
[1] Mornings are best for most of us, as we’re often more creative because we’re freshest then.
[2] The amount of words or word pictures and concepts you come up with is unimportant. The more you come up with simply means the better chance you have of actually unlocking (revealing) the real dreams that live within you.
[3] See Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), p. 234-39.
[4] For mine, this science is one of thinking ourselves into acting differently or acting ourselves into thinking differently.
[1] Mornings are best for most of us, as we’re often more creative because we’re freshest then.
[2] The amount of words or word pictures and concepts you come up with is unimportant. The more you come up with simply means the better chance you have of actually unlocking (revealing) the real dreams that live within you.
[3] See Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), p. 234-39.
[4] For mine, this science is one of thinking ourselves into acting differently or acting ourselves into thinking differently.
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