Often people ask me what is the “key” to becoming FREE? What one thing is the source of freedom at work, in relationships, financially, etc?

I have a critical question for you. What was the source of your greatest success? Think back to the time of you greatest achievement. Think about the area of your life that has continually been a source of strength and joy. What is the source of those magical moments?

Many great thinkers have said that everything in our life is created twice – once in thought and then once in reality. I will suggest that the original source of everything great in your life is a dream that you had in the past. Before goals are set, before action plans are created, before timelines and schedules, there is the moment when your mind is racing in thought and you dream about what could be.

I rencently returned to Madison, WI after a 3 year sabbatical traveling the world with my wife Michelle.

Before we left, when people heard this, they would cock their head to the side and give us a quizzical look, somewhat in disbelief. Other people simply cannot believe we would possibly do such a random thing. In the end, almost everyone asks how this is possible.

It was not because we were independently wealthy, or that we were running away from our responsibilities, or that we were carelessly leaving our lives to return to chaos in a couple of years. We simply had a dream and we worked on making it a reality. This was a reality for us in the same way that ANY and all of your dreams could be a reality for you.

Both of us began dreaming. Wishing. Hoping. Fantasizing about what it would be like to travel to every continent, to see hundreds of different cultures, meet people from totally different backgrounds, support missions and causes that we believe in along the way.

For me, that dream began over ten years ago and I can truthfully say that there has not been a day in the last many years that I haven’t thought about that dream. Year after year in my mind, the creation process continued to crystallize and become clearer. That led to the development of specific goals, then the daily discipline to realize mileposts we set along the way.

I believe that every single person that reads this blog post or attends one of our workshops has the same potential, the same capacity or more to realize any and all of their dreams. For that to happen, it is REQUIRED that you have a clear picture of what your dreams looks like to you.

How then, specifically, do you crystalize your dreams?
I would suggest that you simply grab out a piece of paper and start writing. Write about whatever is meaning to you. Whatever gets you excited. Whatever you are most passionate about. Write out a clear description of your dream home, or the car you would drive if money wasn’t an issue. Where you would go on a shopping spree, what charities you would most like to support, what new sports or hobbies you would like to learn… Or what vision you have for your faith community. Maybe you also enjoy travel and would start by writing down all the countries you would like to visit some day.

It begins with a dream. The bigger your dream, the more likely it is to become a reality.

Will some people think that you are nuts? Of course they will. Just realize they think you are nuts or give you grief because they are afraid. They are afraid of leaving what is comfortable for what they want most. We all need someone to relate with – they are hoping that that might be you!

When your dream is big enough, none of that really matters anymore.

Best success with all that is meaningful to you, and stay in touch! Nothing is more exciting to me than to see your comments about all your success and all of YOUR dreams that are becoming reality. Post your comments below.

Be Free!

Eric Plantenberg
President