Daydream Your Way to Goal Mastery!

If You Can Dream It,You Can Achieve It!

Daydreaming, when done properly, is the first step in achieving your goals. It is crucial to get crystal clear on what you want in your life. Our days are so fast paced and things change so rapidly that it is very likely that the goals that you think you want in your life may not be your true desires. Often our priorities change or we are trying to achieve goals that other people want for us. Taking time to reevaluate and get laser focused on your ideal life is the first step in setting intentional goals.

Gift Yourself a Mental Retreat

You must create time for this daydreaming session. This session could take you a half an hour, a couple of hours, a day, a weekend or you could plan a full week long retreat to recenter. The key is to set apart time for this. Think of this as your STOP sign. You know your lifestyle and what you can manage. The key is to make it an intentional time to get clear on your goals. You could even have a week long pre-session. Take a week to allow your mind to wander and ponder the questions below before you sit down to do the session of exercises to set your goals.

Set the Mood

Create the right atmosphere for this daydreaming session. Choose a time of day where your house is quiet, you can make your favorite drink and a little snack, perhaps a little music and get super cozy.  Think about spaces and things that energize you. Do you love the calm of the beach, a park, or a mountain view? Is there a coffee shop that you adore? Is there a mall or city street that speaks to you? Are you a bath lover or do you have a favorite comfy chair at home? Is there a candle that you adore? This daydreaming session can happen anywhere, the key is to find a location and atmosphere where you are most authentically you and at ease.

Daydream Away

As you take the time to daydream you will want to reflect on all aspects of your life. You will think about the big picture and the small details that make up your life. The key here is to reflect on the questions below and make sure that the answers you give are still true for you. Be careful that you are not answering based on the you of yesteryear, or based on what other people believe is best for you. These answers need to be authentically you. Eliminating the dreams, goals, wants that are not authentically you frees you up to focus on what is meant for you.Here are a few questions to ask yourself to get started:

• Where would you like to live?
• If you could have any career you wanted what would that be?
• Or maybe you would like to retire early? What would that look like?
• Are your friendships and relationships how you want them to be?
• How is your health? Something you want to improve?
• Are you dressing in a way that reflects your authentic self?
• Is there something in your spiritual life that you would like to change?
• Are you spending your free time in a way that serves you?
• Is there a skill or talent that you wish you had?
• Is there a place that you have always wanted to see?
• A book you want to read?
• A hairstyle that is calling to you?
• An organization that you would love to volunteer with?
• What does your perfect day look like?

Document Your Dreams

As ideas and images come to your mind you will want to document them. There are many ways to do this, I prefer paper and pen but if you are a techie then absolutely use your favorite app, or software. This technique is something I call a mind dump. You are going to write down every whim that comes to mind.

• As things come to you that you know you want to improve in your life, jot them down.
• Create categories first and then reflect on each one. Possibilities are Physical, Spiritual, Emotional, Financial, Relational, Professional, Down time, Travel, Home or Health, Wealth and Happie
• Doodle or draw the life you want to create
• Record yourself talking, allow your mind to free flow and see what comes up
• If you are a writer then journaling may be the perfect method for you.
• This next one is a personal favorite. Peruse Pinterest. After you have done the above steps, go on Pinterest for two reasons, first to make sure that you are not limiting possibilities due to not knowing what else is out there. Second, pay close attention to your body’s emotional reaction to each thing that pops up. Search for each goal and as images pop up your body tells you which ones are “shoulds” and drain you and which ones are authentically you and excite you. You can do the same thing as you read through a magazine.

Once you’ve completed these steps I encourage you to take a week and pay attention to the thoughts that happen. Likely you will reflect back on this exercise and have more ah ha’s and find that you want to tweak your list.

Take time this week for yourself and enjoy this reflection activity. Once you are clear on your vision you are ready to set your goals, you can read about that here. I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you and would love to hear from you either via email, in the comments below or on the Give Me Slack FB page!

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