Bridging the Gap Between Dream and Reality

I had a conversation a couple of months ago with Latrina Sam Johnson, also known as “Coach Sam.” I told her how my dreams and the vision to actualize my purpose were starting to fall together.  Then, she said something that has been lodged in the back of my mind: “once you commit to your dream, you dream will take over you.” She was right! I have been moving towards my goals for a long time, but I have experienced cyclical droughts of Confidence, Consistency, and Commitment. (3 C’s to Success).

As my commitment becomes more real, my daily priorities reflect this commitment. Everything just seems so real, so tangible, that I am gaining Godly confidence in my gifts and abilities and I have the desire to explore my options and limits each day.
I have my little disappointments, but they don’t stop me.  Below, I explored a couple of dilemmas I am currently working through.

Dilemma: I found out the trademark, patent, and copyright fees necessary to start my business are double what I expected to pay. In addition, I have some personal debt that is unresolved, some of which I thought was paid off already.

Natural Response:

• Wait to start until I have my personal finances completely resolved.
• Save up and try again in a year or so.
• All or nothing/Absolute thinking fallacy

What I Really Did:

• Take a step back and realistically think about what I can do now, not regret or project.
• Made an appointment to meet with a personal financial counselor.
• Began pulling together documentation for disputed items.
•  Met online with a trademark examiner who is in my online network about my options.

Dilemma: In 2011, I have gained the 40 pounds I lost in 2009 back and picked up some more for good measure! It has been a challenging year and I am pulled in so many directions that my daily health hygiene is often the sacrifice.

Natural Response:

• Beat myself up with no action plan.
• Quit for now and vow to live healthier “when I can focus on that.”
• Do some ridiculous starvation diet or exercise warrior plan.
• All or nothing/Absolute thinking fallacy

What I Really Did:

• Followed up with 17 others and initiated a weekly check in. I haven’t lost anything, but I also stopped gaining.
• Formed a habit of exercising at least 3 times each week.
• Started sharing my progress online.
• Implementing a new healthy habit each time I master one.

What I ended up doing in each of these dilemmas is really of less consequence than the fact that I did something differently. I am breaking cycles and glad of that. He is allowing me to walk from dream to reality and I am thankful. Everything that used to shut me down, paralyze me…has lost its power over my life. God has transformed road blocks into stepping-stones.

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