When your self-esteem begins to rise, magic happens. The first sign? You realize you have options you never dared hope for. Suddenly, your future isn’t bleak and depressing. It’s exciting and filled with new opportunities and possibilities. You actually start to look forward to the future instead of dreading it.
Sounds good, but how do you get from where you are today to that wonderful, delicious, high self-esteem future that you want and deserve? Bear with me because the answer may surprise you. It’s time to go big.
Dream A Big, Blissful Future You Can Believe In.
Dream big. There are no limits on your dreams. What is it that you really want to do? Try to think about what you’d want your life to look like if money and time weren’t barriers. (Because they aren’t.) Would you take dance classes? Start your own business? Live on the beach? Finally write the book that’s rattling around inside your head?
You can’t work toward your dreams until you’ve identified them. It’s OK to have multiple dreams, dreams are unlimited. And they are reasonably-priced. Most people are passionate about several things. You don’t have to just pick one thing and be that for the rest of your life.
Decide what you want your future self to accomplish.
Figure out what you really want to accomplish. This isn’t about titles or money or fame. Or what somebody else wants for you. Or a certain kind of car or house. It’s about how you want to be remembered. How will leave your smudge on the world? Do you want to be remembered for being that powerful businesswoman that provided clean drinking water for an entire village in a third world country? Do you want to be remembered as the visionary who imagined a solution for a pressing business problem? Do you want to go back to medical school at age fifty?
Plan for obstacles.
What do you see as the major obstacle to making your big, blissful future happen? Anticipating road blocks ahead of time can be helpful when you’re thinking about your future. Common road blocks might include time, money, or a lack of emotional support. You don’t have to have all the answers right now, just acknowledge the road blocks. By doing this, you’ll be better prepared mentally and emotionally when you encounter setbacks or problems along the way.
Imagine a big, blissful future you can believe in.
What does your life look like when you have overcome that obstacle? No matter who you are or what you’re trying to achieve, you will encounter road blocks. In order to prevail over them, you must have a clear vision of a future you can believe in. This vision has to be strong enough to motivate you when you’re still living your ‘before’ story. If your goal is to go back to college, then imagine that moment when you walk across the stage in your graduation gown. If your goal is to start a business, imagine that moment when you get your first client. Hold onto your vision like it’s the last salt bagel at Bruegger’s and you have your favorite cream cheese waiting at home.
Dreaming about your big, blissful future and planning for it can be exciting and energizing. It can also feel a little scary at times. But don’t let the fear stop you. You deserve a beautiful future filled with big, blissful dreams.