“Ester asked why people are sad.
“That’s simple,” says the old man. “They are the prisoners of their personal history. Everyone believes that the main aim in life is to follow a plan. They never ask if that plan is theirs or if it was created by another person. They accumulate experiences, memories, things, other people’s ideas, and it is more than they can possibly cope with. And that is why they forget their dreams.” 
― Paulo Coelho, The Zahir

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” 
― Lao Tzu

“If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.” 
― Walt Disney Company

“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

I have always been a dreamer. As a child I lived in a dream world most of the time as it is the place where I found peace. It was my escape. As an adult looking back I realize that the dream world that I lived in was not only and escape it was my gift!

I believe that the ability to dream and to believe in those dreams is a gift. We are often taught as children not to daydream and to “face reality.” But dreaming, I believe, creates your reality and is the beginning of knowing who and what you are and what it is that you shall become. It’s the Divine’s way of giving you a glimpse into the future that is to be yours. When you deny yourself of your dreams you are denying the Divine the opportunity to show you your future.

But I know how challenging it can be to “follow your dream” when you have no idea how to do that or what it looks like to follow your dream. I think we all dream but we think they are just that…dreams. The challenge is how to turn that dream into your reality. My thoughts? Your dream is already your reality! If it weren’t it would not be your dream.

So how do you realize the reality of your dream? Trust! Trust that the path of life you are on is the one that will lead you right to the dream that is within you. Trust that every experience and challenge that life offers you  is part of the journey to that dream. Keep walking! Even when things look disastrous trust that it’s part of the plan and allow yourself to go through it. Trust that is has come to reveal something in you that is necessary for the fulfillment of your dream.

Many well known people who are living their dream can tell stories of tragedy that they experienced in life. They will also tell you that it was that experience that prompted them to do what they are doing. Challenges and tragedy can often give us the push that we need to move forward towards our dream. Keep moving,  keep dreaming and keep trusting that where you are is right where you are supposed to be!

Leisa Monique