The first key to living your dreams is to believe them possible and to foster utter faith in yourself. You’ll find that the crazier your dream, the more likely your friends and family are to think that you will fail, while strangers would be incredibly supportive.

That’s interesting information to have but it doesn’t matter. Know thy dream and cultivate the fortitude to bring that dream to reality, regardless of whether others approve or disapprove.
What is the second key?
Action
Most people think the second key is research but it isn’t. I am not saying that planning and research are not important to creating your new life, but that it should not be the second action you take. If you begin to ‘plan’ and ‘research’ before you have taken any action, then the planning is simply a more kinesthetic way of indulging the fantasy of your dream.
Take action first. Then begin your research and planning.
It doesn’t have to be a big action, just a powerful one that sets your intention. Update your resume. Talk with your Beloved. Join an organization related to your goal. Connect with people who are already doing what you wish to be doing.
Then get to planning to goal setting.
Why don’t we take action first?
- Because we think we have to know the how.
- Because we want to plan the entire journey, step-by-step.
- Because we are waiting for someone else to take an action that will jump start our dream.
- Because we are waiting for someone else to make us an authority.
- Because we think that creating a to-do list is an action.
Don’t wait for anyone else.
Start now.
Start today.
I’ve started with a website, a CraigsList post, a “Hire Me!” page. It’s that simple.
I worried that I didn’t have a degree or certification to do what I want to do. “No one will take me seriously!” I thought I needed someone else’s approval to begin. But the truth of the matter is that both you and I know that a degree, a certification, doesn’t make a master.
What makes a master is someone who has mastered. What have you mastered? What ability do you have absolute faith in? What have you created for yourself?
I know plenty of people who grabbed a certification to become a Realtor, a financial planner, a degree and license for counseling married couples. But are these people living authentically? Are they practicing what they preach?
You can never be inspired by those who present philosophy. What is inspiring, how you will inspire, is by living and being the truth in practice of such ideas, so that the principles you espouse are no longer philosophy but conviction.





8 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 2, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Connie
“What is inspiring, how you will inspire, is by living and being the truth in practice” Another one for the quote book…Thanks!
I missed the bottom of the post the first time…guess I better take a little MORE action on those birthday adventures as January is rushing towards me like a freight train!!!! The birthday is the catalyst for some changes…if not now, when? There’s a whole lotta livin to do!
You up for a hike on Mt. Ranier??? Right now the mountain “feels” metaphorical rather than actual!
hayden tompkins says:
If by ‘hiking’, you mean ‘knitting’ then YES, I agree LOL.
October 2, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Writer Dad
Hey, Hayden, you answered for me! Kind of. I’m also closing my preschool so I can write full time. Thanks by the way for giving me the idea for a Hire Me page. It’s a lot more straightforward, and sensible, than the page I have up now. Rock on, Hayden.
hayden tompkins says:
Ink for Hire, I love it!
October 2, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Dereck
Great post. Turning the corner from thought into action the decisive turn.
October 3, 2008 at 1:56 am
Amber
I am living each day… breathing and smiling. And I am passing what I have along to others along the way. How does that sound?
hayden tompkins says:
Awesome. Especially if ‘passing along to others’ means life coaching.
October 3, 2008 at 2:48 am
dreemwhrld
It’s so easy to put off doing in favor of planning. Those of us who used to (or still do) live by the calendar find it very hard to let go and just do. But you’re absolutely right – planning is often simply an excuse to put off change. Well stated.
hayden tompkins says:
Yeah, I learned that one from experience!
October 3, 2008 at 2:09 pm
SanityFound
Beautiful post and so true, you are brave and an inspiration to many! Thanks for what you say and for adding me to that list Mwah!
hayden tompkins says:
You added yourself!
October 5, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Just Jonny
Lol. Noooo!! That was completely serious. I meant the last part to be a note to you that I will be documenting my journey toward getting that dream job… starting with an exodus from Jon’s Office Space. I really did get another job. It starts a week from tomorrow. (and if it’s no good, I’ve got another job lined up for January, and possibly another after that) I’m shopping around dammit!
Please reread it in a new light–oh I’d delete it if I could.
Much love
hayden tompkins says:
I can delete it. I have the power. Mwahahahaha!
October 6, 2008 at 2:24 am
More Reinforcements, Bizarre Traffic and the Best Conversation I’ve Ever Had That I’ve Never Had | I Will Not Die
[...] Hayden, Sean Asrai, and Ari have all mentioned me recently on their sites. You guys are the dry land I can [...]