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Question #3
The hardest part about pursuing a dream
is . . .
Owning our story and loving ourselves through
that process is the bravest thing we will ever do.
-
Brene Brown
the tenacity, the determination, the drive, the risk, the
stamina, the hard
work, the long days, the sleepless nights, the loneliness,
the uncertainty,
the confusion, the discouragement, the frustration, the
spirit draining, the
fatigue, the unknown.
And yet… something inside me cannot let go of dreaming. It
reminds me of
hope and without hope what is the point of living?
Nolwenn Petitbois:
never giving up. But with time, and no matter how big or how
small the
dream is, I realized that giving up was the easiest way out.
The best way
not to be disappointed is to actually never get near the
point we wanted to
arrive to. But what if the dreamers were true when saying
that the harder
you work the greater the reward?
I believe that a dream can’t end up in your life if you did
nothing for it,
absolutely nothing for it.
I may be wrong but this is how I see it, for me anyway.
Another very hard part about pursuing a dream is the trust
issue. Feeling in
your gut that no matter how your dream will come true, it
WILL come true
for sure. Sometimes, we envision a whole big map to go from
the dream’s
seed to the dream in full bloom, set up a timeline even.
But once you trust and commit to go on despite the bumps on
the roads,
each and every dream can come true.
Jean Simrose:
My dream has been an ever-changing challenge throughout my
life. I am
interested in so many things that my focus has continually
changed over
the years. I have been a licensed beautician, done
accounting, worked for
an oil company and worked as a mental health social worker.
Creating
things and working with my hands has always been a hobby.
Making a
career of it has been the hardest part of pursuing this
dream. I sometimes
question my talent and ability to make jewelry people will
buy. I internalize
the negativity from others who don’t believe I can succeed.
It is difficult not
to become disillusioned in my own ability to follow my
dreams.
Surrounding myself with supportive, positive people who
believe in me
helps me to follow my ultimate dream….creating things that
people value
and inspiring others to follow their dreams as well.
Alease McClenningham:
. . . the naysayers.
There are so many people who are non-believers that they can
derail your
dreams.
The important thing is to only listen to yourself and your
needs.
It is important to surround yourself with positive people.
Kelly Warren:
I think the hardest part about pursuing a dream, first and
foremost,
is taking that first step and putting it out there! And then
the second
hardest part about pursuing that dream is remaining
realistic about your
situation and what’s doable at whatever point you are in
your life.
That means accepting that the dream may not happen tomorrow,
or the
next day, or the next month, or even the next year. But as
long as you keep
it out there and keep trying, even if it’s just inch by
inch, hope springs
eternal.
That said, I think another aspect of that, which sticks with
the reality
theme, is accepting when you need to take a step back and
reevaluate. One
of my dreams is to have a retreat center and offer art retreats.
I found the
perfect spot a couple years ago…if only I had 1.3 million
dollars lying
around! So that’s when I had to reevaluate! I’ve still moved
forward with
facilitating art retreats, but I had to reevaluate and
figure out how I could
make it happen on a smaller scale, and that’s when Mermaids
and Mamas
Artful Adventure was born: Purple Cottage Retreats. I still
haven’t given up
on the big dream, just seeing what I can do in the meantime
to get me
there.
Jan Avellana:
Having a vision of what you want to do, and where you want
to go, but
being unable to pursue it wholeheartedly. Pursuing a dream
is also difficult
because often, this pursuit entails sacrifice—money, time,
emotion—and
these sacrifices may affect the people you live with, who
depend on you to
be fully present for them and to provide financially for
them. Sometimes
pursuing my artistic dreams feels too foolish, the price,
too high to pay,
considering everyone involved. I am finding in my own
creative journey,
that in order to pursue my creative dreams, I must also find
a way to
supplement my earnings with an outside job—a challenge to be
sure, with
two young children and a Hawaii-sized mortgage!
Sonya McCllough:
holding tight to the whisper of the dream.
The soft and delicate whisper is much like the wind.
Only felt ... never seen or heard by any other then the
dreamer herself.
Stephanie Amos:
listening to your heart and ignoring everyone else who
thinks you should
be doing something different with your life, including
yourself. I believe I
have finally realized that I am an artist and creating art
is what I should be
doing with my life. I can’t tell you how much of a burden
has been lifted
from my shoulders in knowing that I am blessed with the
opportunity to
pursue my dream now.
Now all I need to do is move forward with
ACCEPTANCE COURAGE and CONFIDENCE!
Kelly Thiel:
all the evil demons whispering in your ears about doubting
yourself and
your art. And then, there are the nay-sayers in your circle
of friends and
family, and they don’t always give you the strength and
support you need.
Sometimes you feel awfully alone, and it is wonderful if you
can find a
friend who shares your entrepreneurial spirit.
The other challenge for me is the balance. I have a baby and
a preschooler,
so my attention is divided between my family and my
business. Some days,
I feel super motivated to work, but then I am needed
elsewhere. I want to
be present in my time with my girls, but thoughts of work
often creep in, if
I’m not careful. To be successful in work and in motherhood
is a constant
juggling act for me.
YOUR TURN:
The hardest part about pursuing a dream is . . .
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