Don’t Let Your Dreams be Silent

A couple weeks ago, I read an article in LinkedIn by Richard Branson, where he answered the question, “How do you overcome doubt when chasing a dream?”

In this article he started by stating the quote by Suzy Kassem:

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”

This quote really hit me, as I could relate! I always think from the safe side first!

Sometimes I don’t even bother to go through the options, because the

• “I can’t…”s
• “If…”s 
• “but…”s 

start and I never get past that first step of coming up with an idea.

I remember the first time I moved to a different country, from Portugal to the UK. My son was 5 years old, and between the fact that he didn’t speak the language, he was about to start kindergarten, and I wouldn’t have my extended family near me, I was terrified. So terrified that I couldn’t even think of everything that could possibly go wrong. It was too overwhelming to even think about.

I had so many questions about the cost of living. The cost of things in the UK were nearly double what they were in Portugal. I froze. I was so scared, I initially said NO to the offer.

Luckily, the HR representative knew me for a while and talked to me. We did a perspective exercise, and she gave me some time to reflect.

“I will call you back in 48 hours!”

In those 48 hours of reflection, I accepted that I may fail, but we would figure it out. This gave me the confidence to accept the offer.

Now I say this was one of the high moments in my life.

I like to talk about this example because I know the story ends with a happily ever after. I know the results of my decision.

But the dreams I killed because I didn’t even try? There’s not much to say because it didn’t happen! 

I didn’t fail! It just…didn’t happen!

That’s why daring to dream is so important! You have to try to feel the pain of your own growth! 

Don’t let your dreams be silent.

And remember, this is all about your dreams, not other’s opinions of what should be your dreams.

Sometimes, I hear people saying, “If I had done this or that, where would I be today?”

This gives me goosebumps, like when my daughter scratches a balloon! It’s so painful to hear!

That should be how it feels to hear yourself saying, “I can’t,” and nothing more happens! Make it stop!

There is the quote about by Simon Sinek, that I love as well:

“Dream big. Start small. But most of all, start.”

Please dare to give a voice to your dreams, giving space within yourself to let them live.

Then learn how to articulate your dreams, get a plan, find a support system who will help you, and you will be amazed at the results!

Don’t wait for the end of the year, or whatever milestone you’re waiting for. Start to look at the world as a world of possibilities right now.

A good way to start doing this is to create a vision board.

If you’ve never heard of a vision board, get out there on Google and search. There are thousands of pictures of examples.

You can add anything you can imagine, anything you can dream to be, become, live…

Here is the link to the template of the vision board I created! Click for the free download!