Dream Out Loud
I started 2018 out with a new dream board (as one should), but I walked away with so much more than a board full of pretty pictures and nice quotes. I walked away with a heart full of faith and hope for not just my year but the dreams and hopes of my friends this year.
It's no secret that I'm a dreamer. I have big ideas that seem pretty far out of reach most times. Ideas that would sound crazy to most, maybe even impossible so I've often kept them safe *read: hidden* inside my journal. In there, they can just live happily as dreams and then there's no one to keep me accountable or know if I've failed at something. The enemy loves this tactic of mine, he would love nothing more than to see me take my own dreams out of the running. The truth is God has planted dreams in your heart that He has uniquely purposed for you! Of course they seem too big, maybe impossible, they are God dreams. You'll need Him and likely many other people in your life to see them come to pass.
I've learned that one of the best first steps to seeing your dream become a reality is saying it out loud. Maybe even just to yourself first, saying it is different than just thinking it, give it a try. Just say it so that you can hear it, even if it's still a mix of messy thoughts speaking it out loud can help you shape the dream even more. If your biggest fear is someone laughing at you and saying "that will never work" start by telling someone that you’re pretty sure would have that reaction. Get it over with. In fact, I've found this to be really helpful. That reaction will likely help you defend your idea a bit and ultimately help you determine if it's something you're ready to fight for. It's likely that there will be people who won't get it and my even be a bit discouraging. In most cases they mean well, they may even be people you trust and love dearly but remember this is your dream, your the one that can see the vision and your the one chosen to bring it to light.
That being said, there is always wisdom in great council, especially from people who know you well, so don't push it all aside and charge forward. Sit in this space for a while, just keep telling more people (it gets easier) and continue to hone the vision. Over time you may find that some feedback from those trusted few is exactly what you needed to make the vision even better. This is just the beginning, there are lots of steps to go but this is often the hardest one. Rip the bandaid off and dream out loud. It may seem scary but this is likely one of the safest steps on the journey. You may find that some dreams don't go past this step, that's ok. Keep trying. There's a dream in there that will survive and that's the one to keep fighting for.
If you need a place to dream out loud you can start hear. Comment below, but say it out loud while you type ;-)
#DreamBig
