Getting Raw and Real: Why Your Dreams Aren’t Coming True

We’re getting real simple here tonight, my friends. I’m not writing this post with SEO in mind; I’m not thinking about promo; I’m not making a Pinterest shareable image; and I’m certainly not considering this a traditional blog post. Nope, tonight I’m coming at you raw, real, and totally unfiltered. I’m writing this to you completely out of passion and connection, rather than for promotion purposes. Whether or not it helps you with anything, I can’t guarantee, but if you’re someone who dreams big and has ever questioned whether you’re taking the right steps in your life, then ouu girl, I get you.

Tonight, really, I just want to chat about uncertainty, insecurity, dreaming, and the complexities of pursuing a dream in general.

RELATED: How To Manage Self Doubt When Pursuing A Dream 

Let’s start with how this blog post even came about in the first place…

Last week I felt like I hit a turning point with my blog. I felt totally on top of the world. I felt like all I had to do was give more of myself to the blog, and I could without a doubt turn Hustle and Hearts into something big. And, while yes, I still do certainly believe that, this weekend I started to question whether I actually wanted that. I know, I know….how do I go from wanting it all, to wanting none of it?

It’s incredibly frustrating, but I’m constantly questioning myself and my decisions (I like to hope that I’m not alone this). I know there’s undeniably value in connecting with people through blogging, and carving out this little space on the internet for myself. But when I think about my ultimate dreams, blogging is always a part of it, but it’s not it.

I won’t go too much into my own personal dreams, because I know that’s not helpful for anyone, but just briefly, my ultimate goal has always, always, always been to write a book. Unquestionably. And no, not an ebook or a book about blogging. But an actual, physical book you could find in a bookstore, telling a fictional story of my own imagination. Ou just the thought gives me chills…

Crazy enough, I actually did land myself a job that is helping move me forward in that direction. As a freelance writer who writes content for various clients on a daily basis, undeniably my writing has improved. How could it not? It’s a skill that I practice everyday.

And here, at this exact moment, I’m having a bit of an epiphany…

While yes, I’m not exactly penning the next great novel, by any means, I am doing something when it comes to seeing my dream become a reality. I’m writing. I’m building an audience. I’m developing my voice.

I do this both through my freelance work, and also through this blog.

What writing this post has taught me (and what I hope it shows you too) is that we need to give ourselves some more damn credit. I’ve been questioning myself all weekend, when really, I should be patting myself on the back.

Good job, Andrea. You’re on your way.

And guess what? You probably are too.

You might not realize it, but I bet there’s something you’ve been doing that is getting you closer to where you want to go.

And if there’s not, well, then change something.

It doesn’t have to be some big giant change.

For me, I don’t have to start writing my novel tomorrow, but I do have to make sure everyday I’m doing at least something that gets me closer to that ultimate dream.

Bottom line: recognize what you’re working for, and then work like crazy to get yourself there.

RELATED: How To Shift Your Mindset To Achieve Your Dreams

And no, I don’t mean working so hard that you’re running around doing all the things. It really doesn’t even have to mean that anything huge changes right away.

What it does have to mean is that your mindset changes: you put the ultimate dream into focus and stare straight ahead, all while keeping your peripheral vision intact. You let the ultimate dream be your guiding force, but you keep your eyes open for all the things you can do to get yourself there. You don’t become so closed minded that you miss opportunities that will help you, but you also never let that dream get out of focus.

With my situation, for example, my freelance writing helps get me closer to my dream because everyday I focus on improving my writing. My blog helps get me there because it keeps me writing, while also helping build me an audience. While freelance writing and blogging might not be my ultimate dream, the fact that I didn’t even recognize how closely aligned those two things are with my ultimate dream just goes to show how hard we can be on ourselves.

RELATED: How To Overcome a Creative Roadblock 

Focusing so hard on your dream to the point where you stop giving yourself credit is the ultimate disservice to yourself.

[bctt tweet=”Focusing on your dream without giving yourself credit is the ultimate disservice ” username=”HustlenHearts”]

Instead of driving yourself mad by trying to decide what your next move is, step back, relax, and focus on all the things you are doing, instead of the things you aren’t. It’s focusing on those little wins that are going to carry you through your dark times.

Trust me, I’ve been there. Hell, I am there!

But my goal right now to get over this little slump?

Focus on the work. Plain and simple. 

And that, ladies, is all you can do.