Dream, Intentions, Goals and Plans

This is a little story about turning dreams in to reality.

"Make your dreams come true." We've all heard it, but adults know there's a vast gap between daydreaming and manifesting, not to mention that our dreams don't accommodate everyday responsibilities. Thus, most dreams take a back seat to our daily routines.

This particular dream came true. And it happened so succinctly! Familiar obstacles, always at the forefront, were nudged aside to make a little room for possibility. The 4 steps between dream and reality came into focus.

A few years ago I hiked into Machu Picchu. On a rainy, cold day after a long and steep hike, we walked through the Sun Gate to view the Citadel below, bathed in filtered light. There it was! I had been dreaming of this forever. So, what made THIS dream come true? Specific steps—maybe a dash of serendipity—and persistence. Here's the story:

In 2020, friends and I were sitting around a fire when I spoke the dream out loud, “I’ve always wanted to hike to Machu Picchu.” Turns out, they did too.

In that moment, our shared dream became an intention. (Step 1)
We gathered energy around the idea; we talked about why we hadn’t done it yet and what it would take. It was inspiring!
 
The next day something very special happened. My friends did some research. They connected with others who had recently returned from Peru. They collected advice on where to stay and how to find a guide. They looked up flight information. Specific steps and details were becoming clear. Our intention was turning into a goal! (Step 2)
 
Soon after, we blocked calendar dates, made early reservations, and started shopping for gear. We were going! It was set! This long-held dream was becoming reality because we made a concrete plan. (Step 3)

In September, we took action: boarded a plane, flew south, and began hiking. (Step 4)

There it is: turning dreams into reality takes those 4 steps. Sounds simple, but we all know that follow-through takes effort. Naturally, obstacles will appear. It's not just about singling-out one of those dreams, nor creating intention, writing down the goal, clarifying a plan or taking action. It's ALL of those steps. Making your dreams come true is possible.

Your turn! What dreams might you manifest this year?

Which ideas have been lingering—for days, weeks, months, years—and have NOT YET come to fruition? Is it a fitness goal? Travel? Home project? Career aspirations? Spending more quality time with family and friends?

Write it down. Consider why it hasn’t yet happened. What obstacles stand in the way?

• Are you unsure about whether it is a meaningful or worthy idea?
• Are you perceiving barriers that you haven’t addressed?
• Have you simply NOT broken it down into the first few steps?

I faced all of those hurdles prior to that fateful fireside chat with my friends. Turned out, I simply hadn’t looked closely enough at HOW to make it happen. Obstacles were at the forefront and these four steps hidden behind. Once I paused and thought it through, it became clear: this was absolutely DO-able!
 
Let's do great things this year. Let's choose specific dreams for 2025, shape intentions, set goals, clarify concrete plans and take action. This time next year, we'll feel powerful and positive about what we accomplished. And, we'll have stories to tell.

Bring it on!