The Fuel You Need to Pursue Your Dreams

I slept through my alarm. I was late for work. I was feeling completely disoriented. I was behind deadline. Several deadlines. Then this article came floating into my mind. I slapped my hand against my forehead. I had intended to write it a few nights ago.

I plopped down on my bed, feeling completely overwhelmed. Why is this happening to me? Why can’t I get it together? 

I found myself quickly spiraling into that all-too-common whirlwind of negativity.

I took a few deep breaths and sat with myself for a minute. It was in that moment that I received a visit from the Goddess— my confident BFF with shiny, dark hair and solid advice who lives at the seat of my soul.

Lucky for me, she whispered into my heart at the exact moment I thought my head was going to explode. Her secret? She told me to switch the conversation around. Instead of focusing on what was wrong with my life, she advised me to sincerely ask myself what was going right with it.

I started to think about it. It was difficult. I began to think less and feel more—getting specific, genuine and simple about what makes my heart dance. When I created the space for it, from a place of sincerity, gratitude swept in and took over.

That’s when I jumped up, put my music on blast and started to dance around my room.

In a single moment, my perspective completely changed. It was that simple.

Although it feels good to be a doer, there are times when I’m so hyper focused on my goals and visions for the future that I forget what’s around me. My aspiration goggles go on and my eyes glow as I envision myself at the finish line. While having a certain “hunger” is healthy, it can sometimes blind us to the gloriousness that saturates our everyday world. When we’re living in uncertainty and small accomplishments don’t feel like “enough,” it’s easy to become frustrated with our lives. Our perspective becomes blurry.

Gratitude provides clarity. It's the primary practice that increases life satisfaction and infuses us with those “feel good” vibes. In fact, I’m going to go ahead and call gratitude a full on force -- Star Wars style. It’s literally an energy with the power to inspire us in a way that nothing else can.

When we sit down and mindfully reflect on the details in our lives, the simplicities that warm our hearts every day become magnified. We come to realize how much we take for granted and how full our lives are already. This provides more fuel than coffee ever could.

When this becomes a daily practice, gratitude goes from a laundry list of general “thank yous” to a full-on attitude. Not only do our happiness levels increase, but this mind-set can actually attract more abundance into our lives. It’s the stuff of miracles. When we’re grateful for what we have, Life wants to give us more. We radiate. And, as the old saying goes, “like attracts like.”

So, how can we, as doers, movers and shakers, cultivate gratitude while still hustling to manifest our dreams? Here's a golden nugget—straight from the Muse’s mouth:

Next to every goal, write down something in your life that you feel genuinely grateful for. If you can, make both as specific and detailed as possible. Studies show that the more specific you are with your goals and your gratitude, the more satisfaction and joy you’ll feel. The combination of dreaming big and staying grounded will send a serious jolt of positive energy through your system. {Trust me, I’ve tried it.}

So, take this as a formal invitation to go for it. Switch the conversation around and start taking an inventory of your life.

You might surprise yourself. I know I did.