Dream List Media

Help Your Kids Achieve Their Dreams - PART 2

By Melissa Borghorst ©

Get Your Kids Dreaming
Start with a dream discussion about what your kids want to be when they grow up or what they want to do for fun.  Have them create their own dream list in a blank journal or in the journal that I published, Dream List for My Amazing Life, which gives a little more guidance than a blank journal.  A dream list is a great way to get the conversation started and to also see what your kid’s dreams are so you can support them and help them reach their dreams.

While we’re on the subject of dream lists, it is critical that you don’t squash their dreams.  It’s ok to let them dream.  Let me say that again.  It’s ok to let them dream.  If they come up with a dream that will put you in the poor house, don’t panic.  Instead of saying, you can’t do that because we don’t have money, work with them to come up with creative ideas to earn money.  As a teen, I dreamed of riding in a hot air balloon, but my parents didn’t have enough money.  So I got creative and ended up working for a hot air balloon company for a summer in exchange for a free ride. 

Tip:  Visit my blog www.DreamListOnline.com to find creative ideas to achieve your dreams for little or no money.

Another dream that kids often come up with is something totally outrageous…at least outrageous to us adults.  Remember, it’s ok to let them dream.  Think of all the amazing inventions created in the last century.  Back in the day, if you said you were building a giant contraption to take you to the moon, people would have thought you were crazy.  But guess what.  Someone did it and landed on the moon!  You never know if that “outrageous” dream, could turn out to be the start of the next technological revolution. 

What About Failure?
As parents, we want the best for our kids.  We hate to see them sad and let down if they don’t make the soccer team or don’t accomplish one of their dreams.  It hurts more to see our kids fail, than it does when we fail.  So a common question amongst parents is:  What do I do if they fail when going after their dream? 

The answer is, don’t let them give up!  Share with them the story of Michael Jordan.  In high school, he was kicked off the basketball team because he wasn’t good enough.  BUT he didn’t give up.  He practiced and practiced, and ended up being one of the most famous basketball players in history. 

At some point in our lives, we all fail.  But it’s not about the failure; it’s about getting back up and trying again.  Oprah once said that “failure is a stepping stone to greatness.”  This is so true!  There are thousands of stories like Michael Jordan’s.  So talk with your kids about failure and teach them the right attitude to achieve success.   

Tip:  Remind your kids of the story of The Little Engine That Could.  To this day, when I’m struggling with a dream, I still hear my Mom’s storytelling voice saying, I Think I Can! I Think I Can!  I Think I Can!

Come Up With a Plan
The next step is to break down your kid’s dreams into smaller steps and goals.  This is the roadmap to their dreams.  They need to learn how to get from point A to point B.  These goal planning skills will help them reach their dreams, and are critical for all aspects of life, especially in their careers and business. 
Below is one example using a method I call a Dream Tree.  Their dreams start at the base or root of the tree, while the smaller goals and steps branch off.  Try to break each dream into goals and steps that they can start accomplishing right away—no matter what age.

As your kids are accomplishing some of those smaller goals, they may change their minds.  It’s quite common for kids to realize that they don’t want to pursue a certain dream anymore after experiencing or learning about it. It’s perfectly ok if they change their mind!  The planning and action is the most important part, which can be used for countless dreams in the future.  This is also a great process to explore careers and interests BEFORE you spend all your money on college to later find out they changed their minds.

Tip:  If your teens are exploring careers, send them to www.DreamListRadio.com, where they can learn how to turn their passions and dreams into professional careers.  The site provides short interviews with guests who have exciting and unique careers, along with steps they need to take to make their career dreams come true.

Celebrate!
Each time your kids accomplish a goal or a dream, celebrate!  Make a big deal out of it, because it truly is a big deal.  Think of some fun things you can do to help celebrate their achievements.  It’s also important to document their accomplishments in their Dream List Journals.  This journal is not only a fun activity and a treasured keepsake, but it’s also a great tool to help build your kid’s confidence.  If they’ve accomplished a goal or dream in the past, surely they can do it again.

Make a Pledge
These were just a few tips to help you as parent, encourage and empower your kids to follow and achieve their dreams.  Now raise your right hand and repeat after me:

• I pledge to support my kids while they follow their passions and dreams.
• I promise to be their cheerleader along the way and to be there for them when they need a little encouragement.
• Most importantly, I promise to love my kids unconditionally—no matter what.

If you follow these steps, I guarantee that your kids will become more happy, fulfilled, successful and you’ll have a strong family bond that will last for years to come.

 Help Your Kids Achieve Their Dreams - PART 1

As parents, you want to see your kids happy, successful and out in the world achieving their dreams.  Here are a few tips to help you learn how to foster a positive and supportive environment, along with some things you should be doing—right now—to help your kids reach their dreams.

The first place you need to start is not with your kids.  You need to start with—YOU!

Start Dreaming
You are the role model for your kids.  If they see you dreaming, they’re going to start dreaming too.  Start by creating your own dream list of the places you want to visit, things you want to learn, people you want to meet, and anything else you can think of. 

Tip:  Visit my blog www.DreamListOnline.com or listen to one of my radio shows at www.DreamListRadio.com to get dream list ideas or to find success stories.

Over the years, we as adults are conditioned to push our dreams aside because we have to focus on our jobs or our families.  I 100% agree these things are important, BUT it doesn’t have to be one or the other.  You can achieve your dreams while raising a happy and healthy family.  By following some of your dreams, you may even create a stronger family bond.

There’s another thing that may have happened to you at some point in your life.  You were told to be realistic or you’re not allowed to dream.   If you didn’t have money to travel to Australia, you weren’t allowed to dream it.  Many of you have also been telling this to yourself.   Today is the day that you break this bad habit and break this harmful thought process.  It doesn’t hurt to dream, so give yourself permission to dream.

Start Achieving Your Dreams
Remember, you are the role model for your kids.  They need to see you pursuing and achieving some of your dreams.  This will give them the confidence that they too can achieve their dreams. 

Story:  When I was a kid, my Dad dreamed of running in a marathon.  One day he decided it was time to take action, so he slowly started training.  Before his runs, he would stretch and warm up, so of course I too had to stretch and warm up with him.  On his shorter runs, he would occasionally let me tag along.  So I would rush into my room to throw on my “running clothes” that consisted of grey sweat pants, my favorite sweatshirt covered with colorful hearts and puffy sleeves, and my fastest running shoes that were purple with a lightning bolt on the side.  My Dad always wore a sweatband on his head, so mimicking my Dad, I too wore a sweatband on my head. 

He soon began competing in short distance races, so my Mom and I would cheer on the sidelines.  Even though I wasn’t running, I’d still wear my “running clothes” and sweatband.  Then one day my Dad signed us up for a family fun run where I put my purple running shoes to the test.  Boy was that BIG time!  After the race, I announced to all my school friends that I was going to be an Olympic runner.  I was often found at recess racing the boys and anyone else who was up for the challenge.  I soon became the fastest kid in Aldridge Elementary School…or so I thought.  I have such fond memories of those days!  Seeing my Dad follow his dream, gave me the confidence and courage to pursue my own dreams—even to this day.

The moral of the story: Parents, start pursuing some of your dreams!  If you have a big dream, break it down into smaller goals so you won’t feel so overwhelmed.  By pursuing your dreams, you are going to give your kids the confidence and courage to follow their own dreams. 

Click here to read PART 2 of this article to see how you can help your kids.

Tap into Your Daydreams for Ideas and Motivation

By Guest Blogger----Amy Fries ©

Daydreams are not just wishful thinking —they are your nursery for ideas and your best mental state for tackling complex problems. Visionaries of every sort from Einstein to Walt Disney credit daydreams as the source of their moments of insight, and some of the most innovative companies in the world feature programs that give key employees the time and space to think creatively, i.e. daydream—Google offers a 20% program, 3M has a 15% program, and Gore & Associates (Gore-Tex, etc.) features “dabble time.”

While many of us can see the relationship between daydreaming and creativity in the arts and even science, we’ve been slower to come around to its usefulness in business. Say the word “visionary” however, and we understand how having a vision—a mental image or plan—can help someone start a breakthrough company or service. Well, a “vision” is just an upscale word for “daydream,” and “visionary” an upscale word for “daydreamer.”

Yes, I know. All the work and focus must follow to have an idea come to fruition. I am not against focusing in any way, shape, or form. But the original idea and the motivation to fulfill that idea are birthed in a daydreaming state, and we do our most creative problem solving when our mind wanders.

Why Daydreaming Is Your Most Creative State of Mind

• Recent studies using brain scans show that when daydreaming, we are using the most complex regions of the brain, tapping into stores of knowledge and experience unavailable when focused on only one thing.

• While daydreaming, we can envision—we can see things, people, and events in our mind’s eye. This enables you able to see the big picture, something you’re unable to do when locked in the tunnel vision of focus.

• The daydreaming mind is completely uncensored, which gives you the freedom to explore a wide, and sometimes wild, variety of options without an internal critic hovering.

• You are able to free-associate when daydreaming, making seemingly random connections, which in turn enable you to come up with creative solutions. I’m sure you’ve had the experience when you’re struggling to remember a name or word and you can’t get it despite focusing on it, but suddenly it will come back to you when you’re doing something off-task like taking out the garbage. That’s free association at work. In fact, the ability to make new and inventive associations, as we do in daydreaming state, is so valuable to creativity and to problem solving that computer scientists are incorporating the ability into software programs.

How to Jump Start Your Own Imagination
• First notice your daydreams and try to figure out your style and patterns. Take the quiz via the “link” section on my website www.DaydreamsAtWork.com or use the many questions and exercises in the book.
• Give yourself permission to daydream. The idea that daydreaming is wasteful or shameful is an old-school idea. Daydreaming is your most creative, visionary state of mind.
• Make the time and space to daydream. Don’t get so bogged down in your things-to-do list that you don’t have time for your thoughts to just wander.
• Explore your daydreams. If you can make some part of your daydreams happen, give it a try.  For example you can travel to some place you always daydreamed about. You could volunteer for a job that always sparked your curiosity. Use your daydreams to help give you direction.
• Use prompts like music, reading, traveling, or new experiences to spark new daydreams. Even daydreams can get stuck in a rut!

Author bio:  Amy Fries’s new book Daydreams at Work: Wake Up Your Creative Powers (Capital Books, 2009) shows you how to tap into your daydreams for ideas, energy, solutions, and motivation for both work and life. It’s filled with thought-provoking questions and exercises, and includes discussion guides geared for both book clubs and business groups. Amy is a respected writer and editor whose articles have been published in a variety of newspapers, magazines, and trade publications. In addition, Amy has written over 40 articles for AchieveSolutions.net and has taught writing and literature at George Mason University. To read more about the book or to contact Amy, visit her website: www.DaydreamsAtWork.com

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For more tips on starting a business, visit The Sassy Ladies website.

DREAMING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

Excerpted from The Sassy Ladies’ Toolkit For Start-Up Businesses
By Michelle Girasole, Wendy Hanson, and Miriam Perry

Some of us spend months, even years, thinking, “Some day I’ll have my own business,” but never actually make it happen. That’s because that first step is a doozy, and it can be tough to take. If you think of your first year in business as a journey, then this is the part where you decide where you want to go. Even if you’ve jumped into your business without spending too much time dreaming about it, you might find it useful to step back for a moment and do so. Think of it as a reality check to be certain you’re doing what’s really important to you. Perhaps you know someone who is living her dream. That person lives with a sense of purpose, filling each day with whatever is important to her. She has a sense of balance, accomplishment, and daily joy. You know the type. You can choose to envy her, or let her inspire you to live your dream. You also have a dream. It’s about being independent, financially free, successful, or famous. Maybe it’s about giving back to your community or making the world a better place. Or, it’s about _____________________________________________ (fill in the blank). In this dream, you see yourself doing what you love and loving what you do. You’re filled with a sense of satisfaction, happiness, and confidence. Hold that thought.

To turn your dream into a profitable business, you have a lot of practical steps ahead of you, some that are not as fun as the fantasy you’ve created in your mind’s eye. That’s why it’s so important to hold on to the dream to motivate and sustain you. Too often, we talk ourselves out of our dreams (or worse, we let others do that) because we don’t have enough time, money, experience, connections, ______________________________ (fill in your usual excuse here). If you’re reading this, you’ve moved past the vague, squishy, “If I ever win the lottery, I’ll …” stage and have decided to take action toward starting your own business. Congratulations! You’ve reached an important milestone in your life. This is when you’ve decided you’re going to live your life on your terms. It may be a risk, but in your heart, you know it’s an even bigger risk not to do it.

Define your dream
You have to define your dream before you can achieve it. You may be one of the lucky ones who knows exactly what you want to do. You may already know that if you don’t try to sell your handmade cards, you won’t be able to sleep at night. But you may not be that sure. Your dream may be less about what you do than what having your own business allows you to do: make more money, spend more time with your family, or travel. So your first step is to describe what your heart’s desire is.

Still not quite sure what your dream is? Think about the values that are most important to you. Knowing which values you hold dearest will help you make meaningful choices as you start and sustain your business. According to Wikipedia.org, values are “principles, standards or qualities considered worthwhile or desirable by the person who holds them.” If home life is one of your top three values, then a business that has you traveling two weeks every month might not be a good fit for you. If elegance is a top value, then being a professional pooper scooper would hardly fit your desired lifestyle, either. You get the picture.

Keep your eyes—and your heart—on the prize
Remember how your mother would save her nice things for special occasions? The fancy china dishes, heirloom jewelry, and snazziest outfits would be “saved” for extraordinary days. What a shame to let those treasures get dusty and go unused. This will not happen to your dream! Take your dream out of the dark, dust it off, and show it off every day. That’s how you make a dream a reality. (And while you’re at it, wear your great-grandmother’s diamond ring to go grocery shopping. Picking out peaches has never been so much fun. Eat your breakfast oatmeal out of your best china bowl. The oatmeal is good for your heart and enjoying one of your prized possessions is good for your soul.) What’s your business idea? Visualize it happening: see yourself running your own business. Say it out loud. Write it down. How does it make you feel? What makes it so interesting? So fulfilling? What impact would it have on your life?

Say it’s so
Your dream—it’s starting to feel real now, isn’t it? It’s no longer something that you keep to yourself, like a secret or the last piece of chocolate. No, this dream of yours to own your business is becoming a reality and it’s time to make it known. You’re in a good place, our Sassy Friend. Enjoy this moment!

Read more in The Sassy Ladies’ Toolkit for Start-Up Businesses, available on http://www.thesassyladies.com/.

What’s on your dream list?

Go skydiving…
Swim with dolphins…
Visit the world’s seven wonders…
Sleep under the stars…

Nothing exhilarates the soul more than accomplishing your hopes, your dreams, and your heart’s desire. There’s no time like the present to start making your dreams come true!

Ready to get started? Just follow these simple steps to make your dreams come true!

Step One: Dream List
To accomplish any feat, you first need to have a dream. Start by listing all your life dreams, from practical to fantastic. Include a due date to give yourself extra incentive, and check off accomplished dreams.
 
      Tip: Dream big! Pretend that you have all the money, time, and resources in the world, then let your imagination run wild. What would you do? Where would you go? Who would you meet?

Step Two: Take Action
Pick one dream to tackle first and make a plan. Map out the steps you need to take in order to achieve that specific dream. Then take it one step at a time.

Create a dream collage by collecting anything and everything related to your dream—magazine clippings, poems, drawings, photographs, quotes—and paste it all together. Add to and visit this page often to stay focused and motivated.

      Tip: Visit www.dreamlistonline.com, for a variety of products and services to help you along your journey, as well as inspirational tips, quotes, and stories to keep you motivated.

Step Three: Say Cheese
A picture speaks a thousand words, so be sure to keep a visual record of your accomplishments. Use the Dream List Photo Journals to compile all of the dreams you’ve made come true.

If you dreamed of walking the Great Wall of China, take a self portrait on the massive structure. Paste the photograph into your Dream List Photo Journal and write about your accomplished dream. What did you do? What was it like? How did it feel? Would you do it again?

      Tip: For a dash of inspiration, start by documenting dreams you’ve already accomplished. If you’ve made these one-time fantasies into realities, you can surely do it again!

Step Four: Celebrate, Share, and Pay It Forward
Before moving on to your next big dream, take a moment to let it all soak in. Breathe deeply, and enjoy the present. It takes courage, dedication, persistence, and hard work to make it to this point. Celebrate what you have accomplished!

Inspire others to follow their dreams by sharing your photo journal with them. (You may even find a helping hand for your next big dream.) This treasured keepsake can serve as a lasting legacy for your children, grandkids, or any loved ones.

      Tip: Revisit your dream list and photo journal often, so you never lose sight of your dreams. When you hit a road block, look at all your past achievements for a boost of confidence.

Most importantly, thank anyone who helped you along the way. Give thanks by giving back to your community or someone else in need. The more helping hands we can extend, the more dreams will come true!

… So what are you waiting for? Get your head in the clouds and start dreaming!

What is a dream collage?
A dream collage is a powerful tool to help visualize your dreams.  It’s a collage of photos, magazine clippings, drawings, words and anything else that relates to your individual dream.  The collage is meant to inspire, motivate and encourage you to achieve your dreams.

Materials Needed:
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Blank paper or poster board
• Magazines
• Computer and internet access

Step One:  Dream
Before you can begin, you need to reconnect with your dreams.  Start by making a dream list of all your dreams—both big and small. What do you want to do?  Where do you want to go?  What do you want to learn?  List anything and everything that comes to mind.

Step Two:  Plan
There are a variety of dream collages you can make.  You can create a collage of all your lifetime dreams, or if that’s too big you can narrow it down.  Some people make collages of their travel or adventure dreams, while others create collages for their family or business dreams. 

You also need to be aware of your dream collage size.  If you’re working with a large poster board, you will have plenty of room to display many dreams.  But if you’re pasting it into a small journal, then you may need to create a collage specific to a couple dreams.

Step Three:  Search
After you’ve decided on the size and type of dream collage you’re going to make, you need to begin your search for images, photos, words or anything else that relates to your dream.  I recommend clipping out images from magazines or catalogs to use in a collage.  You can also find many images online.  If you have certain words in mind, you can type them into a word document and print them out for later use.  For those who are a little more creative, draw or write a poem about your dream. 

Step Four:  Organize & Create
Now that everything is gathered, it’s time to organize your collage.  Before grabbing the glue stick, spread it all out on a table.  Then begin to arrange your collage with words and images overlapping each other, to make sure it all fits.  Once you have it organized, you can start gluing the pieces down.  Here is an example of a travel dream collage.

Step Five:  Enjoy
With your dream collage finished, take a moment to look at every detail.  Imagine yourself accomplishing those dreams.  If you dream of visiting Paris and you have an image of the Eiffel Tower, close your eyes and imagine yourself standing at the top overlooking the picturesque city. 

Place your collage in a location that you frequent often, like on your refrigerator or in a frame on your office desk.  It’s important to take a moment every now and then to enjoy it.  Let your dream collage motivate and inspire you to get out and accomplish your dreams.

As the curtains close on 2008, we are reminded of the New Year looming around the corner.  It’s that all important time of year to create our New Year’s resolutions.  But instead of your typical resolution, to lose weight or vow to cut down to one latte per week, I propose a new and more exciting concept.  Why not give 2009 a theme?  The year to dream.

Life whizzes by, full of errands to run, work to finish, and for some, kids to raise.  Dreams are pushed to the next year, with the intention of pursuing them when there’s more time or money, or whatever excuse you tell yourself.  A year becomes five years, and then ten and twenty.  If you’re not careful, life will pass you by in a flash.  So whether you’re fresh out of college and just beginning your life, right smack dab in the middle of life, or retired and looking back on your years, now is the time.  It’s time to start making your dreams come true! 

To learn how to make your dreams come true in 2009, read more from my most recent article in Aspire Magazine.  Click on the following link: http://www.aspiremag.net/pdfs/decjan08/Make2009YourYearToShine.pdf.

When I turn on the TV, open a newspaper or hop online, all I see and read are the negative stories about our horrible economic situation.  This news is very important, as it affects the lives of every American, but I’m beginning to wonder—are we focusing on it too much? 

We all need balance in our lives.  Unfortunately, right now many are weighed down by the discouraging news.  I’m beginning to see people’s dreams crushed by the economy and many losing sight of their dreams.  So I decided to write this article to begin balancing lives with positivity.  My goal is to give you and every American a little HOPE—hope that your dreams can and will come true. 

Don’t have any money to achieve your dreams?  Don’t let that stop you!  I am living proof that you truly can accomplish your dreams with little or no money.  I’ve done it time and time again, and you can too.  Here are a few of my tips and secrets to help you achieve your dreams in today’s economy.

1) Focus on the Positives 
The best way to lift your spirits is to focus on the positive aspects in your life.  While growing up, each night we’d go around the dinner table with stories from our day.  But before we could begin, we had to answer one question:  what good thing happened today?  At the time I’d roll my eyes when it was my turn, but as an adult I look back and see the value in this.  It trains your brain to think positive, which brings more happiness into your life.  So the next time you sit down for dinner or breakfast, or your meal on-the-go, stop and ask yourself:  what good thing happened today?

Another great way to focus on the positives is to surround yourself with cheerful and positive things.  I like to place quotes or pictures around my desk, so I have something that inspires me throughout the day.  You could also try watching a TV show that sends a positive message or even pick up a book or magazine to read a positive story.

2) Remember Past Achievements
When I’m faced with a challenge or if I’m feeling blue, I like to reminisce about the great achievements in my life.  It reminds me that I’ve overcome obstacles and succeeded in the past, which means I can surely do it again.

Flip through old photo albums and journals to reminisce on the good ol’ days.  Better yet create a book about your lifetime accomplishments.  Dream List Photo Journals are a great way to capture your past achievements all in one place and one book.  (Ok, so I’m doing a little self promotion.  Since this is my blog, that’s allowed, right?)  

3) Give Yourself Permission to Dream
This is the most crucial piece of advice I could give you.  Stephen Leacock once said, “It may be those who do most, dream most.”  This quote pretty much sums it up.  If you don’t give yourself permission to dream, then you’ll never achieve your dreams.  So what if we’re faced with some difficult financial times right now.  It doesn’t hurt to write down your dreams—both big and small. 

Take some time right now, to start creating your dream list.  What would you like to do?  Where would you like to go?  What would you like to see?  Who would you like to meet?  Dream Big!

4) Be Aware of Opportunities
 Once you write your dream list, you’ll start noticing more opportunities related to your dream.  If the time is right, jump on it.  Don’t let those opportunities pass you by!

5) Start Simple
Boost your confidence by starting with a simple dream first, that you can achieve with little time and money.  When you’re able to check off a couple items, you’ll notice your spirits rise and your heart will feel more fulfilled.

Another way to start simple is to break your big, complicated dreams into smaller steps and goals.  This is important for achieving any dream at any time in your life.  I guarantee you’ll feel less overwhelmed if you focus on small steps.  Before you know it, you’ll find yourself accomplishing your dreams.

6) Get Creative
Here comes the fun part…well at least for me it’s fun.  Try to find creative ways to achieve your dreams with little or no money.  Believe me, anything is possible.  You just need to think outside the box.  Many of the dreams I’ve accomplished happened with little or no $$.  Here’s how:

Trade Your Products or Services:  If you don’t have the money for your dream, why not see if you can trade your products or services?

Work in Exchange:  If you don’t have the money and you don’t have products or services to trade, see if you can work in exchange.  Even if you work fulltime, you may be able to find a couple hours each week to work in exchange for your dream.

Find Free Services:  We are very fortunate right now.  We have an amazing tool that has never been available in our history—until now.  It’s called the internet.  Jump online and do a little searching on your dream topic.  You’ll be surprised to find out how many products and services are free online. 

Network:  Share your dream list with others who might be able to help you along the way.  You may get tips and connections from others who accomplished your dream.  Join online groups or forums to connect with like-minded people.  Maybe you can join forces to make your dreams come true.

I could write a book about all the different ways to get creative, but I won’t go into them now.  Be on the lookout for future blog posts where I’ll go into a little more detail on getting creative with your dreams.

7) Make It Happen
Don’t let the financial crisis crush your dreams.  Tell yourself, I CAN and WILL achieve my dreams.  So stop giving yourself excuses and start making your dreams come true! 

Remember that the economic downturn is only temporary.  Be aware of what is happening, but don’t let it get you down.  I’ll leave you with a quote that I read quite often when I’m faced with challenges.  It gets me pumped to overcome my obstacles and I hope it inspires you too.

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
~ Albert Einstein