* Ask yourself what's stopped you from coming close to your dream. Are you afraid, in some part of you, of succeeding? Are you afraid of being happy? Do you think you don't deserve to have something good, or something that wonderful? Are you afraid of being different than other people, or of appearing silly? Or does dream just feel too big, too huge to accomplish? Find out what's been stopping you. Really look at it, examine it. Then ask yourself whether your dreams and your happiness are more important than that thing, and if you can work with it, with those feelings, toward what you really want.

* Think about what you need to do to get to your dream. Write out steps towards it.

* Then break down steps you need to take to accomplish your dream into steps as small and as manageable as tiny baby steps. Even if you just do something as small as write down one thing on a list to do, or write down a phone number of who you're going to call, you're making steps towards your dream. SARK calls this micro-movements.

* Is anything still holding you back? Figure out what would help you take a small step towards your dream. Do you need to tell someone your dream to make it real? Do you need to allow yourself to feel something? Do you need to write it out in a book, or draw it so you can see it?

* Then hold onto that dream, and keep trying to take mini steps towards it coming true. Try to always be gentle and kind with yourself, always. And when you do do something, even something you'd consider miniscule, celebrate it. Notice it. Know you're coming closer to your dream. Feel joy and wonder of that.

So reach for your dreams. Follow them. Believe in them. And they can come true.

Resources:

* Listen to "Would You Like to Tapdance on Moon With Me?" by Margie Adam (on cd Songwriter) to get yourself back in playful mood of dreaming. * Read any of SARK's books. One of my favourites is Inspiration Sandwich. * Check out some of inspiring and comforting links on my links page: www.cherylrainfield.com

© Cheryl Rainfield, 2002 http://www.CherylRainfield.com All rights reserved.

By allowing ourselves to take time we need to take, we nurture ourselves. By accepting that procrastination may even be a positive thing, and by letting go of constant nagging (which doesn't help you get there any faster, but only makes you feel worse) and self-criticism, we help ourselves feel better about ourselves--and in so doing, we may even get to where we want to go faster, or along a better route that we hadn't seen when we set ourselves goal. Even if we take a long time getting where we think we should, by allowing ourselves that time we respect our feelings, our needs, our selves. So give yourself a break. Let yourself procrastinate--and know that it can be a healthy thing.

© Cheryl Rainfield, 2002 http://www.CherylRainfield.com All rights reserved.

* * * * If you like this article, you may post it on your website or use it in your print publication, as long as you provide a link back to my site (http://www.CherylRainfield.com), and credit me. I'd also really like to know where you put my article, but you don't have to let me know in order to use it. * * * *