When we were 20 years old, most all of us had big hopes and dreams for our future. They probably included relationships, careers, travel, etc. Yet the sad thing is that I regularly see clients in my office at 50 or 60, who have become jaded and cynical at the very notion of dreams they once had. They have given up on them. But why?
Someone once said, “Show me your calendar and I will show you your priorities.” While you may proclaim that your family is your priority, your calendar may indicate something different. For example, I had one client who loved to go dirt biking with his brother, so much so that he missed his own son’s birthday. While he might state that his son is more important to him, his behavior told a different story.
You are where you are because of choices you have made and actions you have taken. If you want to realize your dreams and passions, you may need to take a step back and do a personal inventory, examining where you spend your time. Are you reactive as opposed to proactive? Is your day filled with busyness that is neither satisfying nor fun? If so, a change of direction is in order.
Too often we think that we will get to our passions once we get everything else done. However, there is always more to do – we are never done. So, to begin recapturing our dreams, it is necessary that we carve out time to pursue our passions, even in the midst of an unending list of tasks. As Seth Gillihan, PhD stated, we need to reserve that “time for our passions and defend that time as if your life depended on it – because, in truth, it does.”
I encourage you to begin the journey back to your dreams this week by examining your calendar to see if your schedule reflects your values.