Tips to Break Out of the Mold

Quang Anh Ha Nguyen/Pexels

As a teenager, I had a poster of a ship docked at a harbor in my bedroom. The saying on the poster said, “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.”

As a young adult, I followed the rules – education, acceptable jobs, what have you. This acceptable and safe path eventually led me to open my mind to possibilities I never thought achievable – interesting career choices, international travel, pursuing my life purpose, and living an unexpected life.

What does it take to pursue your dream? If you’d asked my younger self if I would be living the life I’m living today, I would’ve laughed (nervously). We have to experience certain things in our lives in order to find our path. Part of this path is opening our minds to new possibilities and being a bit braver than we may have in the past.

We often cling to the familiar because it’s safe and easy. Change can be incredibly scary. Our world can be rocked by making major life changes. Sometimes, though, that’s just what our soul needs to become our true self.

What are you missing in your life?

Maybe it’s time to figure out what’s missing in your life.

Perhaps you’d like to try this exercise:

1. Turn off your phone and electronics and go to a place (in your home or outside) where you won’t be disturbed for at least an hour.
2. Now imagine, what would you be doing if money weren’t an object in your life? What did your younger self dream of doing? Is it a dream job or something you’ve aspired to? Is there someone you’ve always admired and said, “What an incredible and inspiring person and life they’re living, but I could never do that.”

Maybe you can. What would happen if you allowed the possibility of following that dream? As long as it’s not harming another person, animal, or planet, what’s stopping you?

Make a Plan for Your Dream Life

What steps must you take to live the life you’ve always wanted – the life in your heart?

1. Think of the short- and long-term steps.
2. What do you need to do financially (within reason) to make this happen?
3. And importantly: Is there a supportive partner or person in your life that will join you on your path to living your inspired life?

Helpful Suggestions and Tools

Many find the following helpful in launching their dream life: learning more about and researching your dream, a vision board, positive affirmations, and being with inspiring like-minded people who will support your dream.

• Learn More: Research your dream. Read books and articles, as well as learn about others who have followed the path of your dream.
• Vision Board: A vision board is a collage we create consisting of pictures and sayings about our goal or dream.
• Positive Affirmations: Positive affirmations (such as “I am able to follow my dream”) can be found online simply by Googling. Additionally, there are many books with inspiring affirmations.
• Like-minded people: Finally (but very importantly), you may already know like-minded individuals who can help inspire you. If not, you may find it useful to research and join groups or classes to assist you on your path to your dream life.

Source: Eyup Beyhan/Pexels

The path to living an inspired life may be a bit bumpy and rocky, but you may find the goal of taking small steps each day helpful on your path. Taking small emotional risks, such as saying hello to a stranger in a checkout line, might be a start for some folks.

A ship in a harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for. Perhaps it’s time to be that ship.