How to Finally Achieve Your Big Dreams This Year

The start of the year is always exciting. You got plans, new goals, you’re certain that this year it’s going to be different.

Yet, as January unfolds, you realise that you still didn’t start on that book you were planning to write, you still didn’t set up Dubsado that you planned to use to automate your client’s onboarding, you still didn’t record even one video or a podcast that you planned.

This year, I set a very simple goal: write 10 articles per month and publish them on Medium and my blog. That means roughly 3 articles per week, which seems doable, yet, I’m only on my second article and have 11 days left in a month.

“You’re not disciplined enough, you’re lazy”. Did you have these thoughts when you couldn’t make yourself do what you planned on doing?

Here is the truth. It’s not about discipline or laziness, it’s about facing fear. It’s not laziness, it’s fear that you won’t be good enough, that people will criticise you. It’s a fear of failure or fear of success: or what will you do if your script will be bought or you get a million views on your videos? For some people, it could be a huge win and only great things, but for you, it may mean different things and you can’t start because you’re paralysed but what could happen.

You may get stuck because your goal is too big, your project seems like a mountain but all you need to do is to make one small step and then then next day — one more step. Baby steps do matter.

Baby steps and courage. Courage is different from being brave. Courage is when you’re going ahead even if you’re afraid, even if something that you want to do scares you.

Yet again, you don’t have to leap (sometimes you do, like breaking up a relationship that is not healthy is a leap) but to get to that leap, you would take several smaller steps.

Focus on small steps. What can you do today? Open your laptop and type for three minutes? Does it seem scary? Not so much. Writing a full book may.

If you find yourself stuck, you may benefit from working in a group, especially if accountability is something you need. I loved being a part of Ship 30 for 30, where you write about 300 worlds and publish for 30 days together with a group of people.

If you’re rebellious and can go against what other people suggest, you’ll have to decide for yourself that you’re going to do what you want to do.

Big dreams consist of small regular actions. 

Finding it hard to stay consistent? Don’t feel inspired today to paint? What if you focus on the process instead of trying to make the best piece of art.

Open your paints, take a fresh piece of paper, dip your brush and start painting. Anything. Whatever you’ve been working on last time, something you want to try to paint. Anything.

As you start painting you’ll get more excited about what you’re doing. Even if you won’t create your best work, practice makes a difference. Through practice, you’ll get closer to what you dream about.

Don’t wait for the inspiration to strike you, keep working and one day the inspiration will visit you.

Remember to do things that you enjoy. Walking, yoga, painting, listening to your favourite music, having tea or reading a book. Do things for fun, just because you enjoy them. The more joy you bring into your life, the easier it will be doing all other things in your life, the more often you’ll feel inspired doing what you’ve been wanting to do.

Getting to your dreams consists of baby steps. Maybe there are thirty baby steps, maybe a hundred or maybe more. Enjoy the process and you’ll get to your big dream sooner.

What baby step can you take today?