You can stream the podcast here. Or on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Amazon, and Pocket Casts. You can also search for Root and Rise Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

Following Your Dreams

We are going to dive in a little deeper today to talk about finding and following your dreams. If you needed a pep talk today, you’ve come to the right place!

So, Disney just released a new movie called Soul. If you haven’t seen it yet, I won’t spoil it for you. But you really need to watch it. It’s about finding your life’s purpose, what brings you joy, and what it means to have a Soul. The movie shows the characters when they are “in the zone”, living in their true soul’s purpose.

You are riding your high when you are in the zone, almost in a euphoric type state. I’m in the zone when I’m with my son, taking care of my plants, or bringing light through this blog. For some people, it’s playing their guitar or caring for animals. Whatever that might be for you, it causes you to radiate pure joy.

Find Your Purpose

Why am I telling you about this? Because this movie got me thinking about how we can find our purpose and follow our dreams. We all deserve to be in the zone as much as possible. Who wouldn’t want to be feeling that true joy every chance they can get?

If you are reading this and feeling like you don’t know what that thing might be for you, don’t worry! View this as a chance to explore! Try new things. If you find yourself being drawn towards certain interests like cooking or painting, honor those feelings and try it out! You may find a few things that put you in the zone. And really, the more joy you can bring into your life, the better.

These interests or purposes are not concrete, they might change as time goes on. That is normal. Life is always changing and it’s better to remain fluid than fight it. But those interests and purposes are arrows that can help point you towards your dreams.

Begin Where You Are

Maybe you are already in the process of chasing your dreams. You might have a business started or be working towards that promotion. Or maybe you are in the seed stage of your dream, you know what you want to do but haven’t quite made any moves on it yet.

This article is for you, regardless of the stage that you are in. I’m here to first remind you that you are worthy of achieving these dreams because that is the foundation. If you don’t believe that you are worthy, you won’t get very far. You have to trust that you are being called to this for a reason. This vision was placed in your heart and in your mind so you can chase it. That vision is unique to you. You and I might have similar dreams, but they will never be the same. That’s the beauty of individuality. 

You Are Worthy

If you find yourself feeling like a fraud or like you are not worthy of your dreams, check out my article on Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. I quoted Noam Chomsky: “If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope.”. You have to believe there is hope that you can and will reach your dreams.

Now, I completely understand that it’s not just a switch that flips. It’s a continued practice. You have to learn how to believe in yourself. I spent 20 years of my life having my self worth just chipped away at. My mother wasn’t present to show me I was deserving of love and attention. I put myself into relationships that took away my voice.

I Am Worthy

So when I started this blog and podcast, I had to learn how to use my voice. I had to believe that I had a message that I could share with others that would help benefit them. Yes, I struggled with my own imposter’s syndrome. We all fall prey to it. But you have to know that you deserve more. You are worthy and you are capable. I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t have been able to overcome my negative self-talk. And I still struggle with it from time to time. But I keep working at it.  

If you need more of a confidence boost to follow your dreams, you know where to find me. I’m always here to lift you up!

Now that we know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your dreams, let’s talk about how you can do that.

Find Your Why

First off, know your “Why”. You need to know why you are doing this. So why are you wanting to follow this dream? Why is your heart being called to this? Maybe it’s that you find joy in helping others or the structure of running a business.

When I started this podcast, I knew that my “why” was to help others. If I could impact just one life and either inspire them or help them grow, I could be fulfilled. And I keep that Why in mind for everything that I do.

Your Why is going to be your driving force, your guiding light. So don’t let it slip from your mind. If you start feeling lost or hopeless, look to your why to keep guiding you. 

Be careful not to let your Why slip into a place that is self-serving or inauthentic. Chasing after money or fame will impact the quality of your work and your overall happiness. Obviously, we all need money to survive in this world, that’s a given. I’m just saying not to let that be your main reason behind following your dream.

Research

Now that you know your motivation, you need to do your research. I’m all about researching! Learning the ins and outs of your dreams will make them feel much more attainable. And it will help you realize that it is possible to do! Part of what makes our dreams feel so untouchable is the unknown. We don’t know where to begin or what it takes.

Do you think I knew how to build a website or start a podcast when I started chasing this dream? I knew absolutely nothing about it. So I spent hours and hours researching everything from podcast microphones to the backend of website development.

You have to do the research in order to learn your craft. 

Make Connections

Part of researching your dreams should be making connections. Find people who are already doing it and talk to them! They were beginners at some point too. So they can help you better understand the process and speak from personal experience. Those connections can come back to serve you in the way of collaborations, job opportunities, or more new connections.

And it’s not only knowledge and wisdom these connections can pass along to you. In my article on Continued Personal Growth, I talked about how you become what you surround yourself with. If you start making connections with these driven and inspiring Dream-Doers, that will rub off onto you. You can gain motivation from these connections. 

Action plan

In your research, you should be able to find a clear path for you to take. Even if you can’t see the entire road to your destination yet, you should be able to see the next few steps. That’s all that you need right now. 

Then, figure out your next step. Using the planning strategy from my article on Continued Personal Growth, set your focus for the upcoming month. And start planning your first step. 

Make A Move

Now, do it. Make that first move. This is so simple, and yet one of the hardest parts. If you keep waiting until you feel 100% ready, it won’t ever happen. No one can ever be completely ready for anything in life. Life is too unpredictable for that. We are all just figuring it out along the way. 

I will be the first person to admit that I am no expert at podcasting or blogging. When I started, I didn’t know what I was doing and I’m still figuring it all out. I don’t believe anyone should feel like a master at their true soul’s purpose. Learning new things about your passion should be something you continually strive for, it’s exciting! 

Invest In Your Dream

To reward yourself for taking that first step, invest in your dream. Buy that camera. Get a website domain. Subscribe to a podcast host. Investing in your dream will hold you accountable. Knowing you’ve put money into it will drive you to want to get more out of it, even if that is not a monetary value. 

Investing in your dream will also allow you to build the foundation for it. This is how you get the ball rolling, so to speak. Once you get it rolling, it can create a snowball effect, building itself. So, Take classes, create content, practice. Start laying down that foundation that will support your dreams. You may not be able to see what that creation will look like just yet, but it’s slowly coming together. 

Invest Emotionally

Another way to invest in your dreams is by sharing your vision with others. This is an emotional investment. By sharing your vision, even if it’s just with your partner, they can help hold you accountable. 

They may not even realize they are doing it, but now you have someone who will be asking about your progress and motivating you to follow your dreams. This person will also be a great source for support whenever you need a little extra encouragement or reassurance.

My husband listens to every podcast that I produce. I show him every change I make on my website. Having him involved and interested helped keep me invested in it. It does also mean he can refer me back to my own content when I need a reminder of the message. Just this week alone, he’s referred me back to my body acceptance and imposter syndrome articles. 

Find Your Avatar

Whenever you are ready to share your vision on a larger scale, keep in mind that you want to attract the right people. We are looking for quality, not quantity here. This is where people can get caught up in the external validation of numbers and fame. 

But ignore that. You want to attract your ideal person, you’ll hear this called an Avatar in the blogging world. This avatar is the person that you are writing to. The person that you are focusing on. You can figure out what to do or what to say but you have to stay focused on your audience. Who are you being called to serve? You are delivering this message or service to. Where do you find them? What do they like to do? 

Sharing your dream with people who fit your avatar is so important. Because what’s the point of sharing motherhood content with people who are passionate about fishing? 

Consistency is Key

Throughout this whole process, one of the most important pieces is being consistent. And staying consistent, even if you don’t see results. Keep moving forward.

I always remind myself of the saying from Field of Dreams “If you build it, they will come”. It may be hard to get the ball rolling, you may hit a plateau at some point, or have some sort of setback. But if you keep building it, they will come. People will take notice. They will be interested in what you are doing. You will attract the right people. 

Following Your Dreams to Success

When you reach a level of measurable success, whatever that may be to you, remember this:

Be grateful. Remember to be grateful for what you have built and be grateful for the people who helped you get there

Help others. Remember what it was like to be at the beginning. Help lift others up. There is more than enough success, wealth, or business to go around. Whatever it is that you are chasing, there is no lack of in this world. Building up others helps build you up to a whole new level. It creates more opportunities, connections, and just general good karma.

Celebrate

The last piece of advice that I want to leave you with is to celebrate each success. Celebrate every win, no matter the size. Celebrating even the smallest of wins will make you feel successful. This feeling will build confidence and motivate you to keep pushing forward.

You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Connect with me on Instagram or TikTok to hear more tips!

Want more?

Check out these articles:

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
• How to Stop Playing Small and Start Living Authentically
• Overcome Perfectionism | Being Good Enough