Designing the life of your dreams

By Bayo Ogunmupe In designing the life of your dreams you must remember that what you want to achieve and what you can achieve is limited only by what you can dream. As children, we were born dreamers. We truly believed anything was possible, and no dream was too big. But as we grow into adulthood, we become more and more disconnected from our dreams. It happens so subtly that we don't realise it happening. First, we start questioning our abilities. Then, out of fear of failure, we settle into our comfort zones. Eventually, we become satisfied that this is where we belong. And that if we feel unfulfilled, we take it as our fate, that this is how things are meant to be. So, we talk ourselves into refusing to go after our dreams. Until before we know it, we've forgotten how to dream completely. Which is why we have to consciously ignite the vision of our childhood dreams. Thus, here, I'm going to show you exactly what you can do from where you are now, to get to where you want to be, even if you think it isn't possible. If you've lost sight of your dream or you have forgotten how to dream altogether, your very first step is to ask yourself this deceptively simple question that, once answered, will change the trajectory of your life forever. What would I love doing? Determining what you would love involves a great deal of introspection. It requires you tapping into the spiritual side of your life that holds all the answers; the spirit you were born with that knows your true life purpose. Perhaps you would say: "I don't know what I would love doing, that's why I am reading this article. If so, splendid; that means you're in the right place. With some simple exercises, I am going to show you how to obtain the clarity of purpose and direction you've been seeking for so long. So let's get started. Let's talk about how dreams are created. Your dreams speak to you in two ways. One, Your longing- This is what is missing in your life, which you have a strong, clear desire for. Two. Your discontent. This is anything present in your life now that you want to change. For example, you may discontent with your present job. It isn't paying enough and too far from your abode. In other words, to further define the dream you want to envision, you must pay close attention to what is currently missing from your life and how it is affecting you negatively. Regardless of the type and sources of your discontent, know that these feelings are not wrong. And they're not signs to ignore; for they diminish your acts of gratitude to the Almighty. Those feelings are an expression of the Universe's desire for you to live a greater, more fulfilling life. The Universe is always seeking greater expansion through you- it wants you to grow and blossom. So now that you understand the true nature of your longing and discontent; let's move on to the exercises. And after, keep reading to help you connect with the Universe for greater heights. In plugging into your longing and discontent, take a moment to identify your longing and discontent in four areas of your life. Write your responses under each of Longing and Discontent in your diary. This is because writing things down activates hemispheres of your brain, which enables you gain higher levels of thinking and helps you stay focused. Area of life 1: Fitness level; eating habits, weight and sleep. Area of life 11: Relationships for example spouse, family, friends, community and mentors. Area of life 111: Vocation/career: for example: job, promotion, self employment or writing a book. Area of life 1V: Time and money/ freedom: examples: income levels, time for travel or to be spent with your loved ones. If you can't see the lifestyle, you can't live it. That is my rendering of this aphorism of Gautama the Buddha: "The mind is everything. What you think you become." When you tune into your longing and discontent; your dream begins to emerge in your imagination. You then start to envision or picture it, and even more importantly, feel it. Then your vision of life becomes clear. And that's when you are ready for the next step. So, allow yourself to pause, take a breath and explore what life is trying to tell you. Then throw open the gate of your imagination and picture daily, what lifestyle you would love to live in. Remember it is right and proper to be grateful for all the good you already have and still long for more.