Move Toward Big Dreams By Recognizing The Dreams You’ve Lived Already!

You know when you’re trying to feel more optimistic and just be in a more positive state of mind a higher percentage of the time, one of the things that is pretty common that you’ll run across is the idea of attracting more things in your life that you’re grateful for by taking the time regularly to appreciate and acknowledge the things that you already have or that you’re already experiencing that you’re already grateful for.

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It works. I know that from personal experience, even if you just write down a few things every night or as many times as you can. You start to condition yourself to be able to recognize and appreciate those good things.

I wonder if that also applies for when you’re trying to do something that you’ve never done before: Reach a new goal or achieve a dream that you have and really stretch yourself beyond what you perceive to be your current limits?

I got thinking about this in a recent podcast conversation with Sean Vigue of Sean Vigue Fitness. And he said something to the effect of how it’s interesting that things loom really large in our life and our awareness while we’re dealing with them, both good and not as good, but it’s interesting how, once we’ve dealt with them, they seem to just fade into our collective experience and out of our awareness, whereas they’re really big at the time.

I thought, “Okay, this used to be a dream of mine and I’m living it, it’s real. We’re doing it.”

I thought about that in the time since and normally I don’t advocate spending a lot of energy at looking back at the past, because the past is gone; there isn’t a whole lot that we can do about it. However, I think there are some times where it is valuable to be able to look backward and mine some of our experiences to empower ourselves when we’re trying to go forward.

I’ll give you an example, as it relates to trying to empower yourself toward moving toward your dreams and stretching yourself to new goals and to just continue to evolving. What if you were to look back and see some of the things and recognize and appreciate that once were dreams of yours that you didn’t know how you were ever going to be able to experience that you’ve already done?

I’ll give you two quick examples. Last week I was in Walt Disney World Florida with my sweetheart Caroline and her two kids. We had a fabulous time. And in the vein of recognizing what you’re grateful for and trying to stay present, I don’t know how many times during the week I just stopped myself and said, “Gee Kev, look where you are. Look at what you’re doing!” And I remember a time back before Caroline and I met, and as our relationship was evolving that I just I still believed in the idea, even after a divorce, that you could have a relationship that was a real partnership, that you were a real team, that you appreciated each other, and that you were both conscious, loving individuals coming together, two whole people coming together to share energy, and that’s what we are experiencing these days, and that’s what it felt like on that trip. Through all of the ups and downs and all of the hustle and bustle there was never one cross word between us and I remember thinking, and we’ve talked about it since then, and I thought, “Okay, this used to be a dream of mine and I’m living it, it’s real. We’re doing it.” It’s really empowering.

I was saying to friends afterwards, “I think I’m gonna have to come up with a new dream because I just lived the one that I had.”

Here’s another one. This one’s a little bit more silly, but there’s a rock band that I love. They’re called Extreme. They don’t tour all that much. They were popular for about 15 minutes back in the very early 90’s but their music means the world to me. It’s why I write songs. It was because of them I started. Anyway, I’m not trying to turn you into a fan, but I mention them just so you know who I’m talking about.

Four years ago, in 2012, they put together a few shows in other parts of the world, Japan, China, and I think in Russia o where they played their most commercially-successful album from start to finish, live in concert. And I thought, “I would just do almost anything to be able to experience that!” That music means so much to me. And I only half-jokingly told friends, I’ve gotta figure out a way to get myself to Japan. But really I felt like there wasn’t enough of a demand an audience for them to tour on any kind of a scale that would allow me to be able to get close. I just didn’t think I’d ever be able to do that.

Then lo and behold, two years later, they announced three club shows in the New England area of the United States, and Caroline bought tickets for one of them and gave them to me for my birthday, and July of 2014 we went to a tiny little town called Stafford Springs, Connecticut, and saw that band perform that CD in its entirety in a little club that fit 400 people. So the stage was about as far away from me as this camera is.

Well that came true, and that came true, why can’t this come true?

It was an incredible experience, and I remember being in a daze-like state both because of seeing that show and the time with Caroline, that I was saying to friends afterwards, “I think I’m gonna have to come up with a new dream because I just lived the one that I had.” Now maybe that seems silly to you but your dreams are yours and mine are mine.

Well, now I’m looking at the things that I’m trying to do now. I’m thinking, “Oh my gosh – they feel so far away. How am I ever gonna achieve them?” But, just like writing down things that you’re grateful for, getting into a positive vibration, you look back and think, well that came true, and that came true, why can’t this come true?

Try it. See how it feels, and maybe share. What are some examples of things where you had dreams that you went on and lived, that are now part of your collective experience? Where are you trying to go? What are you trying to stretch yourself to? I’d love to know.

And if you think this is a video that can help empower and motivate somebody else please share it with them, and I’d love for you to subscribe and contribute to our community. Thanks so much for spending the time with me here today.

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