Today’s Brilliance from Michelle Phillips

If you could have all of your dreams come true, what would your ideal life look like? I’m talking about much more than just the job you want, it could be family life, relationships, or any of the things that would be a part of your happiest, most secure existence.

It may seem like an easy question but for the majority of people I work with letting themselves dream seems to be the hardest part of growing personally or professionally. When I ask a simple question like, “What would you like to do?” it is usually met with either “I don’t know” or “It doesn’t matter, I couldn’t anyway”.

However, when I rephrase the question, “If you could wave a magic wand, what would your ideal life look like?” the answers flow easily. Not only do the answers flow easily, they flow specifically with vivid details that paint the kind of picture that takes your vision from grainy watercolor to a high-definition reality.

Thinking about dreaming that way may make it seem easier, so what holds people back from doing it freely? First, a lot of people get lost and overwhelmed in doing what they think they “should” be doing rather than taking the steps to do what they “could” be doing.

Even more often, they work in the jobs or do things because of what other people think they should be doing. Women especially get caught up in what I call the “getting” years: they work on getting the husband, getting the career, the kids, the perfect house, and they lose sight of what they want.

I bet you know what you really want deep down, but confusion and doubt creep in when you attach yourself to what your life should be or what others might expect of you. By allowing yourself to truly dream, you go beyond seeing only limitations and move into a world of seeing only possibilities.

So where do you start? Whether you are working in your dream job or not, or in a good or bad relationship, if you want to make a change, start by giving yourself the opportunity to dream without all the limitations. Be specific. Think about what you’d be doing a year from now. What are you wearing? Where are you? Who is with you? What are you doing? Maybe you are starting a new job, or a whole new life. Just write it down. Don’t hold back.

I bet you know what you really want deep down, but confusion and doubt creep in when you attach yourself to what your life should be or what others might expect of you. By allowing yourself to truly dream you go beyond seeing only limitations and move in to a world of seeing only possibilities.

When I started on my journey towards writing a book, I was initially too afraid to wave my magic wand. I was crumbling under the weight of my “shoulds” and the guilt that came with them. Daring to dream was a courageous move towards uncovering my true beauty. I am forever grateful that I did it!

Now it’s your turn…!