How to Set Your Dream on Fire

16 Jan

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” - Rumi

Circle

In the beginning there’s your dream and its companions, enthusiasm and desire.

What follows right after is fear, which prevents you from fanning the flames of your dream.

Can you make a living?
Do you have what it takes?
Do you really know what to do?

These are the questions that turn the dream into a nightmare keeping you up at night.

And then there’s the rallying cry of “Do what you love and the money will follow!”

Here’s the thing very few tell the truth about. . .

The money doesn’t always follow and passion will only get you so far.

In the world of personal development, that might sound blasphemous, but therein lies the challenge and the discomfort.

Because being passionate about what you do is only one part of the dream.

I was reminded of this in December during a collaboration that surprised me with its depth and impact.

This collaboration with my friend and colleague Cigdem Kobu nourished me both personally and professionally, and had over 150 women complete the year powerfully in Reset. Revive. Restart.

In fact, it went so well Cigdem and I decided to join forces on another project and we’ve now opened the doors to the Circle of Cohorts: a private circle of women solopreneurs who grow, create and thrive together.

“I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

So then, how do you widen your circle and ultimately set your dream on fire?

5 Tips for Setting Your Dream On Fire

1. Ignite Your Feelings

A strong vision is important but you’ve got to get specific.

What do you really want? What does your ideal day look like? How many hours do you want to work? How much income do you want to generate?

Get specific about the details, then go deep with your feelings.

How do you want it all to feel?

Your values are the compass, your feelings the fuel.

”Check ignition and may God’s love be with you…” – David Bowie

2. Tune In To Receive

You’re a giver; it’s part of what makes you so awesome.

And it’s most likely your dream’s greatest goal to make the world a better place in some way. But like passion, that desire will only get you so far. You have to tune in to a new way of being.

You have to become willing to receive.

Until you do, you’ll be greatly limited in how many people you can help. They say it’s better to give than to receive, but they’re wrong.

You have to be equally good at receiving, or the people who need your work – the ones you most want to serve – may never hear your message. And in that scenario, nobody wins.

“Receive without conceit, release without struggle.” - Marcus Aurelius

3. Obliterate Your Someday ThinkingSomeday thinking is seductive; warm and cozy like a warm bed on a cold morning.Someday I will. . .

finish my book
launch that program
fill in the blank. . .

But here’s the truth about someday -
It is a fast ride to nowhere. Every single thing you want for your life and business begins with one. single. action.

And then another. And another.

Action trumps someday thinking every time.

What’s one action you’ve been avoiding? Go do that one thing today.

“Someday is a dream killer.”

4. Examine Your Resources

Anything is possible with the right resources. When’s the last time you examined the tools you’ve accumulated on the journey?

The tools you collected as a student, parent, or employee might still be useful, but are they exactly what you need to take this dream all the way?

Give your resources a reality check. With your eyes wide open you’ll see what you’ve already got, but also what’s needed to move forward and fuel your dream.

“All the resources we need are in the mind. ” - Theodore Roosevelt

5. Step Into the Circle

If you can fulfill your dream alone, your dream’s not big enough.

Not only do you limit it, but come on, it’s not nearly as much fun as when you have fabulous cohorts along for the ride.

There’s an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

I say it takes a circle to stoke the fire of your dream.

Learn from those who have traveled before you. Choose a mentor who’ll share both her knowledge and experience. Give up your attachment to doing it your way.

When you surround yourself with the right kind of support, you’ll rise like the phoenix, stepping out of the fire more alive and fiery then ever before.

“I seem to have run in a great circle, and met myself again on the starting line.” - Jeanette Winterson

Your dream is worth the effort, don’t you think?

Over to you:

Ignite the fire by joining the Circle of Cohorts. This private forum for heart-centered women solopreneurs is an environment where passion, purpose and profit finally connect – where your dream can come fully alive.

Comments 11 Comments
Categories Circle of Cohorts, Coaching
Author Sandi Amorim

10 comments

Newest | Oldest

Sabrina at MyMiBoSo

I AM open to receive...the gifts the universe has given me that allow me to help others. The LOVE that is always flowing toward me (whether I see it or not). And the beautiful abundant money that symbolizes the exchange of value I'm creating through it all :).

Yes, ma'am I love the reminder to receive Sandi. Always good to hear :)

Sandi Amorim moderator

1 Like

@Sabrina at MyMiBoSo That's the best shift in thinking there is, that it IS always flowing!

David Stevens

That's pretty much the sum of it Sandi

be good to yourself

David

Sandi Amorim moderator

@David Stevens Great minds think alike :)

Hannah BWYA

Great post Sandi, and really valuable points. The idea that all you need to do is follow your passion and everything will fall into place is a common fallacy - there are definitely other ingredients needed too! I like the way you outline them here.

Sandi Amorim moderator

@Hannah BWYA Thanks Hannah! Busting up that myth is definitely something worth doing! There are other ingredients of course, but these are the ones I'm most familiar with. How about you?

Hannah BWYA

@Sandi Amorim @Hannah BWYA Hey Sandi, sorry that wasn't very clear... I meant that other ingredients are needed in addition to passion. Imo, you hit the nail on the head with your five points :)

I wonder if there's something about putting fears into perspective too? In my experience, what prevents a lot of people from setting their dreams on fire is fear - fear of failure, fear of success, fear of ridicule, etc.

Sandi Amorim moderator

@Hannah BWYA Oh yeah, those amorphous fears can shut us down pretty darn quick! One of the things I do often is look fear full on and name it. What exactly am I afraid of? And I try to stay away from vague catch-all phrases. The more specific I get, the more the fear loses its grip :)

Joanna Saunders

Sandi, I am so excited about the Circle of Cohorts. I love today's post, it has given me food for thought as I continue on this journey. The Tune in to Receive part is confusing to me. This is the next step for me...learning to recieve.
The other is a mentor. As I write that I realize that there is a fear around that. (Tapping needs to happen here) Someone I was friends with used to accuse me of talking to her only to get information. I had taken some classes with her and felt we could discuss what we both knew among other things. She felt I should always pay to talk to her...we are no longer friends. How does one establish a mentorship? I will look into that. Thanks Sandi for this post it has given me some steps to take for today. :)

Sandi Amorim moderator

@Joanna Saunders Great questions Joanna! Tuning into receive is a challenge for many heart-centered women. We're mostly conditioned to give, aren't we? It takes practice to start asking for and receiving what we want.

Regarding a mentor, it works best when both parties are clear on what works, what they're willing to do in the relationship, etc. Clearly your old friend had different expectations!