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-time in martial arts. I am living my childhood dream.

It is possible. But it is only possible if we believe. The dream killer 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 lighter 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 viable. If you save money everyday you will slowly stop worrying about financial constraints. 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 simultaneously. 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 intentional. 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 resuscitating 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.