“Your dreams can guide you to your most precious life. Honor them and make them come true!”
—Nancy Salmeron
I had a conversation with my husband recently about my aging father. My father has been in and out of the hospital throughout the past two years. I know he is tired of being sick and is lacking motivation to keep on living. I try to encourage him to stay positive, to not give up, and to keep on pushing. I tell him to focus on his blessings, the present moment, and to let go of the past, but the past is where he is at. The past is where the dreams and hopes for his life remain. He talks about what he could have done differently and how he could have been a better father and husband. I assure him everything was perfect; I know he loved us; he did the best he could; and he was a good father. But I am not sure I have convinced him. He also mentions he wished he had never given up on his dream of being a singer. He remembers being on the same stage with now famous Mexican singers. He had the potential to be a great singer, but he lacked the self-belief to make that a reality. I asked him why he did not follow his dream. “Unfortunately, life got in the way, and I stopped singing to provide for you guys. I had to grow up. I needed to be practical, not a dreamer,” he responded.
As I talked with him about why he did not follow his dream, it dawned on me that he is a big part of my why! He is the reason I have pursued my passion of empowerment, self-belief, and self-actualization. My father is the reason why I believe we should believe in our dreams and make them a reality! He is the reason I want your dreams to not die inside of you. He is the reason I work very hard to get you to understand that you have a special gift that was only given to you to share with the world. My father has lived a respectable life. He has five children and a wife who love him. He was responsible and provided for all of us, yet I now see that there was always something missing from his life—accomplishing his dream of being a singer. Looking back, I understand that what was missing was his purpose, his gift to the world. Singing was his gift to the world. He did not have to be a famous singer. He just needed to sing.
I understand that he needed to be a provider for his family, but I also believe he did not have to stop singing.
His fear of the unknown shelved his dream and eventually he forgot about it. Yet, his dream never really left and it is lingering forty-five years later. When I question him about why he did not pursue his dream, it reminds me how fear plays a big role in whether we pursue our dreams. As I shared with my husband how it hurts me to hear my father talking regretfully about the past, I also realized that the past is where we get stuck when we don’t fulfill our dreams. My purpose is to help you understand that anything and everything you desire for your life is possible. I want you to believe that you matter and that you have a special gift that needs to be shared with the world. Unfortunately, nobody encouraged my father to dream big. He was encouraged to be practical and responsible and that dreams don’t matter. Fear consumed him and now forty-five years later his dream is still alive inside of him but with nowhere to go. I have encouraged him to keep on singing, but his lungs are weak, and he is unable to do so. The only thing I can do now is tell him that he must stay present and know that his purpose was to be a wonderful father and a loving husband. I hope I bring him a sense of peace and comfort, but I don’t really know if I do. Today, let’s talk about the importance of following your dreams.
Following your dreams can introduce you to your purpose.
I believe the goal of life is for you to live out your dreams. I also believe that when you identify your desires you may be introduced to your purpose. Your purpose is that special something that you do that others need. Dreams can introduce you to your passion, which is also a link to your purpose. When you know what your dreams are, and you follow them, you give your life a direction and meaning.
Having dreams challenges your fears.
When you give yourself permission to dream, you are also inviting fear into your heart. Following dreams will introduce you to fear. Fear will remind you that you may fail but pursue your dreams anyway! Yes, the unknown of following your dreams will spark a little fear, but this spark of fear will make you feel more alive. When you challenge your fears, you ultimately will conquer your fears. That is a promise.
Pursuing your dreams inspires others to do the same.
Following your dreams inspires others to also dream. As you accomplish your big dreams, you give the people around you the hope and inspiration that anything is possible and that they too can accomplish their desires. If you are a mother or father, remember that your children are watching you. Remember that it’s not what you say to your children, but what you do that impacts them. If you want your children to believe in their dreams and they see that you don’t believe in yours, they will do as you do not as you say. Be an example of what it is like to have the courage to follow and accomplish your dreams.
There are many powerful reasons why you should follow your dreams. One main reason is that they give your life meaning. My father had six reasons to live a happy existence—his five children and his wife. He was content and happy, yet something was always missing. His dream of being a singer never became a reality. As he gets closer to the ending of his life’s story, he can’t let go of how things could have been, if only he had had the courage to make his dream come true. Today, I want to remind you that you should follow your dreams, not only for the sake of accomplishing them, but also because they make you courageous and highlight why you exist. Making your dreams a reality inspires others to do the same and will make you proud of who you become. Your dreams guide you to your most precious life. Honor them and make them come true! Don’t die wondering, “What if?” Until next time, Believe. Change. Become.
Sending many blessings and much love your way!
Nancy😊