How to follow your dreams (so they actually happen!)

I am a BIG dreamer. By big, I mean, I have so many ideas constantly on the go, and always revolving around my mind. But it’s so easy to get discouraged, distracted, or straight up unmotivated.

Some of the dreams that have come true include: publishing my first book (Scarlet Ribbon), releasing music, starting a podcast, having. YouTube channel…the list could go on. But how did all these dreams come true? And how are my next ones going to?

Following your dreams takes a level of confidence and determination to push through the pessimists and low moments. People might tell you you’re dreaming too big, or that you’re just going to be disappointed. It’s so vital we don’t listen to the negativity. Instead, set your sights on the big dreams and believe anything is possible with God!

If I had followed through with negativity and discouraging thoughts, perhaps I wouldn’t have my music released, or my book published. The dreams would still be on the horizon, waiting for me to have the courage to follow their call.

There are low moments in the journey of completing each dream. With my music it’s having to redo that take, or start again when your computer crashes, it’s telling myself that my voice is good enough. With publishing my book it was the fear that I was doing the wrong thing, that I shouldn’t be spending all that money on my book. Looking back at those dreams, they are all worth it.

Start there. Make your dream worth it. If you can’t justify why your dream matters to you, it will easily not happen. Set in stone the fact that this thing is inportant to you, and when the hard times come, you will have what it takes to continue believing in it.

Once it’s worth it, what next? Where to start? What to do?

So many ways to go, so many decisions to make. So much to learn. How can you know all the answers?

You can’t. I certainly didn’t when I set off to complete my dreams. I learnt on the way, figured it out. If we wait till we have all the answers to begin, we might never.

Whether that first step is writing the first draft of a novel, or emailing an editor or newspaper company, starting an instagram account for your passion, or buying the first supplies to get going – take the first step.

Once the first step is taken, the second and third will be made clear in time. So often I have no idea what I’m doing, so I just find that next step, pray about it, and then take it. That has been my story countless times. Buying a new microphone, or downloading a new DAW, ordering boxes, emailing a printing company, opening an account with Etsy, sitting down and recording the first episode of a podcast – so many little steps that were a small part of the big picture.

Trust the journey, you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin with.

But what happens when we are taking the next steps, doing the things, but aren’t feeling motivated to keep going? What if we feel like giving up?

It always comes back to your why. I’ve said this in other posts and don’t mind repeating. It is always about your why when it comes to motivation. If you loose sight of that, the reason for following this dream disappears. The fireworks die out, the ember fades. So keeping your “why” in mind would be my first piece of advice.

Take a step back from where you are at with this dream and look to why you started doing it in the first place. Is it because you wanted to prove something to yourself? Is it because you have a story you want your children and grandchildren to be able to read? Maybe you are wanting to build a business so you can be flexible and do what you love. Go back to the beginning of this dream, find where it came from. Find where that was and sit in that place of wonder for a bit. Let yourself be filled with hope for the future. Believe in your dream again.

Go to Jesus if you’re still struggling to keep hold of your vision. See what He thinks about it. Sit in prayer with Him, hold your dream up to hear His validation. He cares about your dreams, despite that voice that says they’re “not important enough”, or “not churchy enough” for God.

At the moment, here in my early 20s, I find myself so full of dreams and visions, plans for the future, business ideas. 2024 was full of entrepreneurship, and I think 2025 will be the same. Let me be honest, there are definitely times I doubt what I’m doing, and wonder if it will ever come to anything. But I’m determined to keep pushing forward, keep taking the next step till I see breakthrough. I listened to podcasts about blogging as I started this blog, and I vividly remember one lady in an interview saying how no one thought she could actually make an income from a blog, and how it made her even more determined to prove them wrong. That stuck with me, and has encouraged me to press onward with my dreams and have more faith than the doubters. I believe all my dreams are possible with God. May His will be done.

So, if you’re struggling with motivation –

• Make it worth it

Set yourself up for success by building a strong foundation in your mind about this dream, and why it is worth it.

• Take the next step

Take the first step and the others will follow, don’t wait till you know all the answers to start.

• Return to your why

Come back to why this is worth it to you, and remind yourself that your dream is important.

Set your sights on the highest of horizons and dream BIG!