Day 100: Day Reality - Acknowledge the Dream

So you want to turn your daydream into a day reality, huh? 

I do, too!!

The first step may seem obvious, but if missed you might as well kiss your daydream-turned-day-reality goodbye. It is:

1. Acknowledge the dream.

No matter how fleeting or expansive, frequent or rare, we have to acknowledge and identify the dream in order to do anything with it.

This step sounds easy, but if you're anything like me - with a lifetime of family and societal conditioning influencing your every thought and action - it can be quite difficult. 

That's where the new way of (investigative) thinking comes into play!

Allow me to illustrate -

In a recent daydream, I saw myself on stage at the Chicago Theater. Standing in front of a crowded audience. An audience that deliberately paid and traveled to see me and hear what I had to say. To see my show not only be entertained ('is she a comedian?!'), but to be inspired, lifted up and validated in who they are and what they are currently experiencing in life. They leave motivated and excited to apply new ideas and concepts they learned to their own lives. And eagerly share this information with others.

My dream was nowhere close to this when it first started knocking on my consciousness (and I've no doubt it will continue evolving). Yet, it kept throwing pebbles at the windows of my soul, over and over. Desperately trying to get me to take notice. 

Many nights as I was trying to go to sleep, my mind would be flooded by passionate narratives of various topics and themes.

Ooh, this is good - I should write it down! Ugh, but my bed is so warm and I'll have to turn on the light . . . I'll remember in the morning . . . I hope.

The willed memory the next morning almost NEVER worked. But the nighttime ideas continued, and I finally wised up to write them down.

What did I do with them after that?
Besides this blog - nothing.

When one approach didn't work, my internal desires would try another:

"When you think about it, we've always liked performing," my sister stated one evening, in reference to many childhood kitchen dance shows, during which behind the fridge was 'back stage.'

And another approach:

[Me thinking after writing down a bunch of thoughts in my journal]
'huh, why do I write as if I'm telling someone else these thoughts - as if they're not just for me?'

Sometimes, the best thing for getting in touch with what's going on inside of us is some good old fashioned silence. Time spent doing nothing.
Nothing but thinking and reflecting.

I thought about how I enjoy public speaking on topics I am passionate about.

I thought about how I like making people feel good about themselves and believe in their own abilities.

I thought about the declaration my best friend Elsa and I [somewhat jokingly] made in our early 20s about being inspirational speakers when we are old ladies.

I then thought about a question I was asked a handful of years later about this declaration, "Why wait until you're an old lady? Why not now?"

So I sat and reflected. And thought. And reflected some more.
. . . public speaking is a form of performing and I'm passionate about what I'm learning from coaching. I can incorporate speaking events into my coaching business - that would definitely be considered inspirational speaking. . . . and I could do experiential events! Kind of like simulation meets art gallery - that are interactive and engaging, entertaining and enlightening . . .

Ok, I was finally starting to get the message of all the subconscious hinting. I was finally hearing Mountain Man, my Inner Guide, rattling around in his cavity inside of me.

So that's it, right? That's all it takes to Acknowledge the Dream? 

I wish! 

No, that's only the first half - creating awareness to what the longing and desire inside is. 

The second half of Acknowledging the Dream is:

• creating awareness of the thoughts/beliefs that keep you pushing the dream away and
• how these thoughts/beliefs impact your current thinking, actions, view of yourself and view of life

Oof! If this content weren't enough to wrap this post up, the length definitely is!

[Dramatic cliffhanger music starts]

Acknowledge the Dream: Part 2 - To Be Continued

 

Day 99: Daydreamin

[Cue Lupe Fiasco feat. Jill Scott]

I was eating breakfast, listening to my pump-up, Live Life playlist and imagined it playing at the beginning of one of my shows at the Chicago Theater. I'm on stage - dancing willy-nilly to Andy Grammer's "Damn It Feels Good To Be Me" - smiling, feeling silly, and exuding joy.

Last month, I would have considered this an indulgent thought. But now - despite fear I most definitely feel - I consider it a future happening.

Take note of your daydreams. 

 

They aren't just passing thoughts or pipe dreams or even random (despite what past Sarah would have you believe)! 

 

They are your deepest wants and desires making themselves known.

And, as cliche as it sounds, the only thing keeping them daydreams, is you. 

 

They could be your day reality . . .

But how do we get there?

How the heck, indeed?!!

I think, it starts with the 5 Ws -

 

Who

What

Where

When

Why

Are we back in Journalism class?! 

 

I'm not sure, I never took Journalism in school. But I do know that these 5 words are the foundation to all investigative thinking. And that's the exact thing we're going to be investigating - a new way to think.

 

This way of thinking is not so limited as we are used to. 

It is so expansive it can be hard to even fathom (I'm still trying to fully wrap my mind around it).

It is not about 'manifesting' or 'willing' anything into existence.

It IS about, first, being honest with yourself. 

And second, being true to who you are.

And that's it! 

 

Simple, right?

 

What?! No! - I don't know what to do with that!!

 

Yeah . . . it's so simple, it can seem quite difficult. 

But don't worry, we can take it a step at a time, together. 

Because remember, this is Sarah's World - and Sarah's World is Awesome - and so are you.

Day 98: Keeping Up with The Good Life

I think a lot of us picture this idea of The Good Life as one of financial excess and freedom.

We think about celebrities and nice things and houses and traveling and all of these things that are simply that - things.

But that's not what The Good Life is. The Good Life is not Things.

The Good Life is a mindset, a perspective. Interestingly enough, it can in fact lead to all of the "things" our culture attributes to this label. Yet these are mere side effects, not the intent or goal.

I think about the first episode I watched of The Kardashians, my new guilty pleasure. Boy, was what I took from it much different than what I expected for a reality show.

What did I see?

Humans.

Underneath all of the fame, money, and curated persona there are real people on the screen - with real insecurities and struggles.

Doesn't matter who you are or what your circumstance, no one is immune to the human experience. And I don't know about you, but my human experience thus far has been far from straight or smooth.

The part that really stood out to me was Kim hosting SNL. This is a Perfect example of an individual navigating how to move forward in a way that serves THEM, rather than defaulting to what 'makes sense' [aka: pleasing others]. 

I think we should all take note. Not because she's famous (love her or hate her), but because she's human and we ALL have, and will continue to encounter, choices of this kind.

Choices to be honest with ourselves and what we really want.

Choices that don't have a guaranteed win or outcome.

Choices to trust in ourselves even if it feels scary or vulnerable.

What if we fail? What if we embarrass ourselves? What if people talk about us?

What if we try? What if we become alive with this new experience? What if we trust ourselves and learn we can fly?

There are two sides to every coin.

And we get to choose which side we work from.

THAT is The Good Life.

Directing your own life with confidence and excitement. Or at least curiosity - no matter how hesitant or fear-tinged it may be.

The Good Life is one in which we are honest with ourselves about what is important to us, what interests us, what makes us come alive, and what we want to bring to this world.

Once we tap into that, there is no limit. Even the sky can't hold us.

"I could have Kanye as the musical guest, that would make the most sense.

... But I kind of want this to be my own thing."

Stop right there, Kim! There's no need to think any further!

You want your chance to try something new. To have an experience of your own.

That's it.

No explanations or justifications are needed.

When we want (from our soul, not our physical senses), we connect to our own path to happiness. To question and deny it, to hide ourselves away or make ourselves small (ie - stay the same), never brings fulfillment. It just perpetuates emptiness and longing, for . . . 'Something.'

Pay attention to the inner wants. They are trying to tell you something.

"Come home to yourself. Your Good Life is waiting."

Day 97: Rain-walker

 Getting caught in the rain isn't ideal, but seeing this makes it better:

Plastic bags will never be the same.

 

. . . and neither will I . . .

Day 96: Electric Chair

 

 

Day 95: Jerry's Question - Inner Guide

As pretend Jerry Seinfeld wanted to know -

'so what's the deal with the Inner Guide?'

The Inner Guide can be considered the master of your domain - the captain, if you will.

"If it's the captain then why do we doubt ourselves or think we're not good enough?"

Excellent question, imaginary person! (Someone's been reading my previous posts!) For the answer, I would like to direct your attention to life. 

Life happens. That's why.

Think about when you were a young kid. You didn't care what anyone thought and did what you wanted, what felt good. You'd play butt naked on the slip n' slide at your neighbor's birthday parties regardless of who was around! 

No, just me? Well, you get my drift! 

Your Inner Guide was alive and well, encouraging you to explore, learn, enjoy, and just be You!

Then you got older and other people's ideas, beliefs, pressures, insecurities started to mix in with all of the other information you're absorbing from the world -

Don't act like that

Look like this

Strive for this career

and the list continues on and on and the snowball continues to grow bigger and bigger. 

Before you know it, you're just rolling around wherever the societal wind blows you. 

As this happens, as you become inundated by other people's crap, your Inner Guide becomes trapped and starts to atrophy. Meanwhile, your saboteur(s) grow stronger and stronger - they eat crap for breakfast!

So, life is happening. You're rolling, trying out different directions. And then at some point, something else starts to happen. 

A rattling starts - and it's coming from inside of you.

That's your Inner Guide. Poor thing has shrunk so much, it no longer takes up the full cavity it was trapped in. Now it's just rattling around in all of the empty space. 

Every time societal winds blow you farther away, the rattling gets louder. 

Some people don't hear it. But, eventually, most people feel it. 

A sensation they just can't put their finger on. It's like, like an emptiness - as if something was missing. But that's silly, you're doing everything you should be doing. How could anything be missing?

It's your Inner Guide. And it wants to reclaim control of the vessel so you can live an amazing life and see the insanely incredible and valuable human you are!

So that's the deal with the Inner Guide - really Living.

And when we take the time to connect with and nurse our Inner Guide back to full health, we become unstoppable!

Day 94: Mountain Man

In my latest session with my coach I was introduced to someone new.

She was to lead me through a guided meditation in which I would meet my 'Inner Guide' - the part of me that is confident, knows what to do, and makes things happen. 

Basically the best parts of me all rolled up into a neat personification.

I was excited to try this out!

I eagerly closed my eyes and took some centering breaths, then hoped the exercise would work and I'd see something in my mind's eye.

First, I was instructed to picture a safe space - noting my surroundings, any sounds, the temperature, everything about it.

A circular clearing, enclosed completely by tall thick bamboo, and a curved bench came into view. There was dappled sunlight and a nice warm breeze.

Am I making this up? How do I know what this looks like? Was I just thinking of peaceful things and forced this image to mind? - STOP! Just go with it and trust that whatever comes up is supposed to.

Next, I am informed that someone is approaching my safe space, and I'm excited to meet them.

The next thing I know, a large figure is coming into view as it travels down the bamboo lined pathway and into the clearing. I see my Inner Guide.

WHOA! What the heck?! Am I making this up!?!?! I would NEVER ever have pictured this as my Inner Guide! 

Before me stands a very tall, very large, very muscular, man with a beard. Clothed in an olive green tank, bandana, and hiker's backpack. Mountain Man.

Wow.

His energy is visceral - exciting, energizing, and magnetic. He has great posture and owns his space.

I'm then instructed to ask him some questions -

I learn that he gets excited by challenges. And if I want to call upon him all I have to do is take a deep breath and feel the energy in my body humming. He told me to remember, "If I'm alive, I can do this."

Finally, I'm told that he has a gift for me.
Oh boy, how am I going to see this one?!

He places something in my hand.
What the heck is that?!
I cannot for the life of me make out what it is. After a little while I can tell it appears to be made out of bamboo - then a sense of knowing tells me it's a whistle. A bamboo whistle - that apparently looks like a pipe, sort of.
Ok, I can roll with this.
But there's more - the whistle comes with a message: "Whenever you call, people are there to help you."

---------------------------------------------------------------

Dang. What a cool exercise!!! 

And that happened high on life - 100% stone cold sober.

Because coaching is the freaking bomb!!!!!!!!!

[Cue Jerry Seinfeld]
"So what's the deal with the Inner Guide?"

Well, Jerry, for the sake of length - I'll fill you in on a different day.