10 Tips for Creating a Life and Living Your Dream

1. Stop doing things just because others expect them of you.

Your heart must be in it to finish the race. When we do things just because we 'should,' we eventually reach a place of resentment, anger, and rebellion.

2. Get your priorities straight.

Spend your time, talents, and resources with the people, activities, or things that are meaningful to you. Stop wasting these on people or things that are not adding value to your life or that keep you from moving forward towards what you want to be or do.

3. March to the beat of your own band.

The most satisfying experiences in our lives are when we are engaged physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, or intellectually. Life is meant to be effortless. If you're tugging and pulling, and everything feels like an uphill battle, then you're doing the wrong thing.

4. Do what you're good at and the money will follow.

Whether you're a brain surgeon or a dogwalker, be the best you can be at it because you love it. Your enthusiasm and love for what you do is what will make you successful in the long run. Enthusiastic and positive people attract others to them who want that too.

5. Share your dream with others, but be discerning.

Realize that not everyone you share your dream with will be thrilled for you. Avoid the nay-sayers and focus on those people who can support you even if they don't agree with you.

6. Stop making excuses and just do it.

The reason (excuses) for why you have not taken that first step does not matter. What matters is that you take that first step NOW.

7. Determine what your ideal life looks like.

Most people's initial response to this is 'I don't know.' If you did know, what would your ideal life be like? Who would you want to live with, who would you like to meet, where would you like to live, what activities/shows/parties/places would you like to experience or be with?

8. Identify the stumbling blocks that can be turned into stepping stones.

Your past experiences and adversity can create opportunity for you. It's all in how you look at life and how you choose to use those experiences so that you eliminate the blocks and move on in spite of them. Victory is yours!

9. Reduce your learning curve.

Learn from the experiences and mistakes of others. Instead of reinventing the wheel, take what you can apply from the trials and challenges others have overcome then tweak the process to fit your own situation.

10. Align yourself with a role model/mentor.

Having someone who's 'been there and done that' is one of the best ways to get yourself on track with what you want to accomplish or be. A mentor will be supportive, offer the benefit of his/her expertise and knowledge, and will listen to you when you need the support the most.

Losing your way can occur for all the right reasons. We can take the wrong path out of love, a sense of duty, a sense of responsibility or as the result of illness, accident, and even tragedy.

When you wake up and find yourself on a path that isn't what you wanted in life it can be a horrible feeling. You can feel trapped, imprisoned, isolated, depressed and frustrated. You can feel like you have wasted your valuable time and feel angry at those around you. Well, take a deep breath and relax. Getting back on track is as easy as taking the first step in the right direction.

What is that first step? It is the same if you are a homeless person or stuck in someone else's or your own mansion. The first step to live your life and make your own dreams come true is to ask yourself some very important questions.

When you ask yourself these questions give yourself plenty of time to answer. Go somewhere quiet. If you can not get away do your best to tune everything else out and allow yourself to hear your own voice. Stillness is the key.

These questions can be answered with a single sentence or pages and pages each. The important thing is you get it out and on paper. Even an ill thought out plan is better than no plan at all. These questions are not your plan. These questions are the foundation for your plan so your honesty and knowledge of yourself play into this. The more you know yourself the easier your journey. You may want to review these questions and think about them for a long time before you write a single word. In any case these questions are the first step.

These are the questions asked by the best in the field of life coaching and will help you get yourself back on track. Allow yourself to think big. Write it out, look at it and then increase your dreams in writing, ask more of yourself. If you start low you will end low so think big! Go for it!

Welcome to your dreams!

1.) What will you get if you achieve your goal of__________________? Is it money or fame or peace or a new career or housing? What do you want? It can be more than one thing. Write down everything if you feel inspired to do so.

2.) How would your life be different than today if you achieved this goal?

3.) What is standing in the way of your ability to achieve your goal?

4.) What are the solutions to those obstacles? Who can help you? Where could you find help?

5.) What are the three most difficult things you are willing to do to achieve your goal?

Now, go back and look at your answers. How are your actions in line with your answers? How are they different? Are you willing to make adjustments?

What is going on in your thoughts about what you have written? Is there a lack of commitment to your goals? Are you coming up with reasons why you can't do this or that? This is the challenge.

Change those negative thoughts and obstacles into things you are willing to work around, overcome or drop. Reorganize those values and do something you know you need to do to live the life of your choosing. Do it today. It can be as small as writing the answers to the questions. Commit to doing the things that will lead you to the life path you desire. If it is a class takes a class, if it is filling out an application do that, if it is doing something creative, do that. If it is reading a book on the topic do that. Join a group with similar interests; build a network that will lead you to your dreams.

As you can see getting back to who you want to be is as easy as taking your freedom where you have it and building on that little by little or even all at once. Watch your choices. Hold yourself accountable. Are the choices you make leading you a step closer to your goals or are they leading you away from them. Keep these notes with you and make sure you read them daily. When making any decision ask yourself are you sacrificing what you really want for what you want now? If so, rethink your decision. If you get off track, and you will...use these questions to help yourself get back to you.