Dreams and goals

[Pony]

"Sometimes when you reach for a dream, you have to leave something behind."
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I read this quote many years ago and it has always stuck with me. But what does it mean exactly? Well, I supposed it has a different meaning to different people! And I guess it would depend on the dream and situation!

For me:

Right now currantly in my life my goals are to better myself physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Now most of these things are ongoing life long changes that occure through life. But even for those to be successful in growing, something must be left behind. I believe the most important thing that must be dealt with and released to be forgotten is FEAR! Fear is one of those very big road blocks that keeps a person from achieving any goals that they set for themselves. Fear is what causes your mind to post those negative thoughts that play over and over in you mind and overpower postive and supporting ideas that are trying to get in. Fear closes those doors and windows and pulls the blinds down keeping you in the dark to what joy and great wonders are instore for you if you would just break out and get free of that fear! Fear will hold you back from enjoying the feelings of love, affection or attention from family, spouse, a friend, or lover. Fear keeps you from accepting that very same love, affection, or attention that is being offered. Fear keeps you from living!!!!

Now fear is brought about by feelings of insecurity and inadequacies either made to feel as a child growing up or atained later in life through some traumatic experiences or poor life choices. Either way it is hard to shake those feelings and retrain your mind to accept the good and posivtive...to feel worthy of doing so. No matter how often you here it from others sometimes it is still very hard to believe that what they are saying is right or true. Because your truth (or what you think to be true) is always playing in the back of your mind.

How to overcome this kind of fear...the kind that is keeping you from fully experiencing life and all it's good and bad. Well to be honest I am still a work in progress on this one. I go along feeling and thinking great thoughts and reaching out and trying to expand my horizons (sort to speak) but then that old "fear" comes creeping back right at a really bad time (like if there's any good time) and hinders me from being who I could be; doing something wonderful; or participating in something unique (a once in a lifetime opportunity) that may never come around again.

Also, fear sends me into destructive behavior sabatoging myself and furthering me from those goals that I have set for myself.

Well one of the exercises that I have found helpful is journalling. Writing about what it is I am fearful of. Maybe getting out what's really causing my fear and all the emotions that go along with it. Really putting down all the nitty gritty thoughts and letting it out of my mind.....setting it free.
Then I try to keep telling myself the positive stuff, but I'll tell you it helps to hear it more from a support group. An outsider (by that I mean someone out side my head) telling me over and over the good stuff about me.

That's why this place is so very important to anyone's dream building; those goals that you want to reach; that life of recovery; that happy life in general!

Thank you for giving me the place to say all this and for helping to reach my goals and dream my dreams. Each day a little more fear is lifted away and I get a little closer to being who I want to be. Sometimes I slip back and feel like I am failing; but I know that you all will come along and lift me back up even if you don't even realize you are doing just that, by your humor and positive attitudes and the love, care and concern you all have for each other!

So "fear" be gone from my day, today!

Hugs all,

Pony

[Pony]

More on reaching for those dreams:

Ok, I dream of being a healthy active woman who can go and go and keep up with her young daughter and grandchildren (as they grow). To achieve this dream, I have to set a number of small achieveable goals to get me to the ultimate point of health.

1. need to modify my eating habits....types of food and how much I eat in a day.

2. Need to up my water intake and lessen my sodas.

3. Need to set up regular excerise program daily.

4. Need to make sure I make regular Doctor check-ups.

5. Need to make sure I am taking the time for me in grooming and personal care. Look the best that I can possibly look.

To attain these nessessary good habits I need to leave all those neg. habits behind!!

It is hard to break the chain of bad habits that we have become accustomed to; but if I want to be successful in finding that dream of health I must begin a process of letting go of those bad self-defeating unhealthy habits. Leaving behind something that has become comfortable and familiar, no matter how destructive it can be, is extremely hard. You are entering unfamiliar territory when starting to change into the positive world that is waiting for you. It can be uneasy and scarey, but once into it also can be so wonderful. To feel good and "on top of the world" as if you can go out and accomplish anything and you look and feel great.....is an awesome feeling!

So leave behind those bad self-defeating negative behaviors and get a new lease on life. A more strong and positive person really to take on whatever comes your way!!!