10 Ways To Revive a Childhood Dream

 10 Ways To Revive a Childhood Dream

The beauty of childhood is that we aren’t restrained from dreaming by perceived barriers. As children, we know what we want and we say it. Then as we get older, we tend to forget our dreams. We tell ourselves, “It’s just not possible.” Do you remember your dream as a child?

My name is Izzy. I am about to turn 30 and I believe in childhood dreams. My childhood dream was to be a ninja. But I didn’t just believe it, now I actually live it. I quit my job, I moved to Japan, and I train full-time¹ in martial² arts. I am living my childhood dream.

It is possible. But it is only possible if we believe. The dream killer³ isn’t reality, it is our belief that it can not be our reality.

Today I want to share with you 10 ways to revive your childhood dream. I am living, breathing proof this stuff works.

10 Ways To Revive a Childhood Dream

1. Listen to inspiring audio when you wake up

This does two things:

1) It increases your sense of possibility to do incredible things

2) It will teach you practical methods to make big things happen. When you increase your belief in the impossible with practical application you can do amazing things - like pursue a childhood dream.

I listen to Zig Ziglar, Leadership success, and Winning Strategies for High Achievers. You can go to many different websites that offer memberships for audible motivational and inspirational speakers. I prefer audible.com.

2. Create a daily laugh list (don’t take yourself too seriously)

Every time I said “I want to be a ninja” people laugh – including me. To bring a childhood dream back to life you have to be willing to laugh at yourself. Every night write down 3 to 5 funny things that you did.

Maybe you tripped in public, were really awkward in a social situation, cluelessly said something inappropriate, or you dropped coffee on your shirt. Notice something? Most adults don’t find these things funny. But if you start to look at the lighter⁴ side of life you will realize they are funny. “Gosh I was so awkward!” can be quite funny if looked at through the right lens.

3. Start saving money today

Money is a huge deal. We have to meet our financial needs. It is impossible to believe in our childhood dreams if we cannot come up with a way to make it financially viable⁵. If you save money everyday you will slowly stop worrying about financial constraints⁶. This gives you peace of mind to develop creative ways to generate income.

I live in Japan, train in martial arts, and teach English under 20 hours a week and easily cover all my expenses. By having money in the bank I was able to attempt more creative ways to generate income. Consequently I make double the normal hourly rate.

4. Ask the question “What do I want to do with my life?” and don’t accept “I don’t know.”

Sit with this question and take action to figure out the answer. Read books, volunteer in your community, take personality tests, and start new activities. Do not accept “I don’t know” as an answer. Discovering your dream is a journey. Take steps everyday.

5. Read non-fiction books on success

Reading non-fiction books on success increases your sense of possibility and provides practical application. It inspires and educates simultaneously⁷. This allows you to think big and take steps everyday.

Don’t know where to start? Check out the list of “suggested reading”.

6. Socialize with other successful people

Find people who are positive, upbeat and have a huge sense of possibility. Take them out to lunch, interview them, make them a part of your life. These people will encourage your dreams and be the ones you share your dreams with.

7. Focus on “How?”

Don’t ask if things are possible. Don’t create excuses. Don’t think about problems. Focus on how you can accomplish your goal in making your dream a reality. This will turn you into a solution-oriented person. Solution-oriented people make big things happen.

8. Always ask and answer the question: What can I learn from this?

There is always an opportunity to learn from every situation. When you fail ask “Why didn’t this work? What must I change?” When you succeed ask “Why did this work? What must I keep doing?”

9. Develop a weekly goal and accomplish it.

When you step forward to follow a childhood dream you must have superb confidence. One of the best ways to build confidence is to have success. Be intentional⁸. Each week establish one goal. Keep it simple. Maybe you want to run 3 times a week. Great! That is your goal. Maybe you will write 500 words every day. Great! Go for it.

As you achieve each goal you will expand your sense of possibility. As you increase your sense of possibility you will slowly but surely be resuscitating⁹ your childhood dreams.

10. Write out a one page vision for your dream

Take out a piece of paper, a pencil, and a timer. For 15 minutes you are going to write exactly what a day would be like if you were living your dream. Write down everything: who you talk to, where you live, what time you wake up, how you feel, the activities you participate in, even what you eat. Hold nothing back.

This will increase your sense of possibility because you are taking a dream and turning it into specific daily behaviors. The first time I did this activity was 3 years ago. I looked at my vision and the first thing that crossed my mind was “This is possible…”

Conclusion

It’s okay to “not know” but it’s’ not okay to accept this as an excuse to do nothing. You can take anyone of these methods I mention and begin doing it now. A childhood dream is possible but it is only possible if you take the steps to make it happen.

1 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

2 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

3 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

4 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

5 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

6 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

7 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

8 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

9 resuscitating   

v.使（某人或某物）恢复知觉，苏醒( resuscitate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Purpose To observe the curative effect of resuscitating and scalp acupunctures on apoplectic hemiplegia. 目的观察醒脑开窍法与头针治疗中风偏瘫的疗效。 来自互联网