How to Turn your Dreams into Reality

Are you ready for an adventure? It's time to harness your big dreams and turn them into a reality. The first step is to pick a dream--anything under the sun that you would like to achieve in your life. If you need help finding one, or you feel somewhat unsettled or dissatisfied with how things are in your life right now check out this post first: To Dream is a Grand Adventure {this post will really help you find your next dream}

Once you've picked a dream {for me, it was redecorating my home}, it's time to begin.

THE 7 STEP DREAMING PROCESS

Phase 1: Dreaming Phase 

During this phase, the sky is the limit. Look at Pinterest boards, cut out pages from magazines, make collages and dream boards, look around you for inspiration. Dream about all of the possibilities and don't cut out a single one. This is a time to let your imagination soar. Note: This phase can sometimes take only a few hours. With more complex or massive dreams, this process could take up to a few months--or even a year or more. Judge the size and feasibility of your dream at this stage in your life. You'll know when it's time to move onto the next phase.

You can check out the Pinterest board I created when I embarked on this journey of redecorating my home {back in December}. This is the place I put the ideas I found online. For physical inspiration, like printouts and magazine pictures/articles, I began compiling a binder.

Phase 2: Design & Visualize Phase

After you've spent some time dreaming, you need to craft a vision. For me, it was writing down on paper some of my design ideas for my house. Once I had a rough sketch, I spent several days just letting it settle. I would take a few minutes at the end of my day to lay on my bed, close my eyes, and visualize myself living in the home of my dreams. It's tempting to skip this step--but this step is vital! When you begin visualizing your dream coming to life, that's when things start to get magical. If this is important to you, and you've felt the Spirit whisper to you that your dream is good, then Heavenly Father will help you achieve it. That's why it's imperative that you keep your thoughts positive and visualize your dream coming true. Because the very moment you start visualizing, your dream will start gradually turning into your reality. Note: This phase needs to continue throughout the whole dreaming process. It will fuel your dream with the enthusiasm you will need to achieve it.

Phase 3: Research & Refine Phase

Now it's time to dive into researching just exactly how you are going to make your dream come true. Write down all the questions you have, and all the worries you have. Then research them one by one. This phase can take a while as you explore all the details, so don't expect it to be completed overnight--especially if it's a big dream. And don't get overwhelmed. Just work on it little by little, bit by bit, and keep updating your dream boards with the how-to's and inspirational articles you will need to reference when you're in the creation phase. This phase took me over a month to complete, but it was well worth it. There is something about researching all the details that calms your worries. As you research, refine your dream vision--tweaking things here and there until your dream is doable and manageable.

Phase 4: Budget & Save Phase

The budgeting aspect of this phase may not take very long. If you've done your research, you should know a ballpark range of how much this dream will cost {and for business dreams, how much profit you will make after you invest in education and supplies}. When you have a projected expenses document {I made mine first on paper and later in Excel}, you can look at your budget to see how and when to allocate your funds. There may be some parts of your dream you have to cut out, and others you have to put on hold while you save up the money. But don't get discouraged. It will be worth it, and like I said earlier, the Lord will help you. I finished my re-decorating budget last month and have been waiting for our tax refund and other savings to be accumulated. Many of the aspects of my dream {like painting, can lights, new light fixtures, several pieces of new furniture, and other small decor will be feasible over the next few months. Other things, like my countertops and floor will have to wait...for several, several years. And that's okay. I am feeling so content and blessed with all that I have received.

Phase 5: Planning Phase

After you have made a budget timetable, it's time to make a plan of when you will work on and complete each aspect of your dream. For me, I made a "Remodel Timeline" in my notebook complete with my list of projects to do and the date I wanted to do them. Of course, this plan won't be set in stone and I will be tweaked as regular life happens, but with a plan, you will be more motivated to move into the next phase. Be advised--while it's very good to research and plan and refine, be careful not to get stuck too long in the researching phase or the planning phase as you wait for perfection. Eventually, you just have to take a deep breath and take the plunge. Things will work out as you go along--I promise. Note: this phase took me only one afternoon to complete. With my research done, it was a cinch.

Phase 6: Creation Phase 

Are you ready to get started on actually achieving your dream now? This is the phase I am in right now. It's exciting and nerve-racking and head-spinning and wonderful all at the same time. Enjoy each moment--even the unpleasant ones {like painting vaulted ceilings...coming soon}. When you start to wonder why you ever started on this journey, remind yourself of what you are trying to accomplish, and how it will bless your life and the lives of those around you. Remind yourself that it will be worth it, and every problem will be solved. Pray for strength, and rely on His grace. He will help you if things start to look bleak. This phase may be done in one day or it may take several months or even years to achieve. But remember that joy can be found in the journey as well as the destination.

Phase 7: Gratitude & Celebration Phase 

Since I'm not finished with my creation phase yet, I will hold off on explaining this last phase for a bit. I will dedicate a whole post to this when my house dream is completed.

And that's it! That is the "Dreaming Process" in a nutshell. I would love to have you share with me in the comments the dream you are working towards, and update me on your progress. You can follow me on Instagram @writinginthestillness to follow along with my house dream journey. I will also be posting lots of inspiring quotes there to keep you {and me} excited and motivated.

Good luck! {And "Good Faith," as my mother always says.}
With the Lord's help, you can do anything!!!

To Dream is a Grand Adventure

 Everyone needs a good dream. A dream that lights you up inside and makes you want to jump out of bed each morning with excitement. To me, a dream is more than just a goal. Goals are good. They are the small landmarks along the way that help us reach our destination. But dreams? They are the destination.

A good dream builds you, empowers you, and molds you into a truer disciple of Christ while simultaneously helping you reach outward, beyond yourself to bless those around you. Dreams can be small or large or somewhere in-between. They might bless your family, your community, or even the world at large. But they are all important. Because God delights in the growth of His children.

I was pondering on this thought a few mornings ago as I washed the breakfast dishes when my sweet little 3-year-old daughter bounced into the kitchen and announced: “Mommy, I’m going on an adventure!”

I gazed down at her enthusiasm and asked, “You are?”

“Yes. I’m all ready! I have everything I need!”

She held up her sparkly light-up purse filled with “necklaces, toys, and snacks.” And with that, she was off to happily pursue her special make believe adventure. I smiled to myself. We all need an adventure. Following our dreams as an adventurous quest puts a sparkle in our eyes and a lightness to our step. Yes, we all need a good dream.

Where are you in regards to following your dreams? You may already be pursuing a bold quest to make a difference in the world. Right now, this is where I am. I have a lofty vision for the near future and I am striving little by little to achieve it.

But there have been other times in my life when I haven’t felt so sure. Times when my progression slowed or even stopped—like I was standing on an isolated, flat plateau and had no idea how to get off. Or perhaps you’ve just completed an adventurous quest and are wondering what’s next. Have you ever been in a similar space?

What do you do when you’re stuck in a rut, or standing on a plateau, or at the end of a quest and don’t know where to even begin when it comes to finding your next dream?

You start right where you are, because “here” is all you have in the grand scheme of things. Bless this present moment—no matter how high or low you feel. Remember that feelings are temporary and they do not define who you are. You are a spirit child of God living in this mortal experience to grow and become. So let the emotions flow through you and accept where you are with open arms. Because this rut you stand in today will lead you to a mountain vista tomorrow.

Once you accept where you stand, glance around. Take in this “view from the valley.” Gaze off into the distance and observe your surroundings. Do you see perhaps a far-off mountain or nearby hill, beckoning you to climb its peak?

What does this look like in practical application? Kneel before your Maker and ask Him to give you a vision of your next mission to perform. Then be still and listen. Your answer may come in that moment, but maybe not. If it does, embrace it with open arms, write it down, and commit to take the steps necessary to achieve it.

But if not, stand up and live with a heightened awareness of the little things in your daily life. Because the Lord will send you a message through something as simple as a verse in your scripture study, a sunrise, a phone call, an article read, a chance conversation with a loved one, an act of service performed, a message from church, or just a simple idea that switches on like a light bulb.

Pay attention—for your petition is important to your Heavenly Father. He delights in giving His children a vision of what they can become and how they can personally make a difference in the lives of His other children throughout the world.

The scriptures say, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (D&C 88:63)

In my count, I found a similar admonition repeated more than 15 times throughout the scriptures. Truly, this exhortation is a sure promise we can believe.

In the words of Elder Jeffrey R Holland:

“God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.” (This, the Greatest of All Dispensations, CES Fireside, September 12, 2004)

I believe this. I know He will answer. And when He does, it will be like a hilltop off in the distance lights up with a conduit from heaven, and deep down you just know that this adventure is the one for you.

Do You Ever Feel like Faith is Elusive?

I love the principle of FAITH, but at times it can be a little elusive for me. So I am always seeking to deepen my understanding of this amazingly powerful principle.

I have a dear friend who taught me about faith a few weeks ago. In her home, my friend displays a little plaque with these words:

"Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death."

Max Lucado said it similarly:

“Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will.”

I was also reminded that faith is something we have to practice. But as with any skill, we become good at what we practice.  Day after day, we can choose to immerse ourselves in faith-building activities. Things like feasting on the scriptures, soaking in quiet moments of meditation, retreating to the temple, listing gratitude, singing praises, communing in prayer, finding our ancestors, and easing the burdens of others will not only build our faith--it will build us. I can think of no greater use of our time.

And even when we are living the more routine parts of our days, we can infuse the ordinariness with faith. Thinking about favorite scriptures as we wash dishes; singing hymns while we fold laundry or drive to work; encouraging those around us as Christ would do; noticing the tender mercies ever apparent; choosing patience over anger; and a myriad of other ways will fill our hearts with faith.

One of my absolute favorite ways to increase faith, is to simply state it--out loud or even quietly to myself:

"I have faith."

I learned this from my mother. There wasn't a day that went by on our mission in Portugal that she didn't wake up and say with the brightest smile on her face, "Eu tenho fé! I have faith!" She taught me such a profound lesson through her example.

The wonderful thing is, when we state our faith out loud, even if we feel it is small or weak, our faith begins to grow. And it sends a message to "the opposition" that we aren't giving up and we will not be discouraged or defeated.

My friend taught me another profound lesson--one that I've learned before but have such a hard time putting into practice. The lesson is this: we wouldn't let anyone bully, put-down, or discourage one of our family members or friends--so why do we let the adversary do this to us? If someone we cared for was being mistreated, we would boldly stand up for them and order the bully to leave. Likewise, we must learn to do this for ourselves when our fears and doubts and discouragements come knocking. We can't let anyone or anything paralyze us with despondence. We are spirit children of God and with faith in Him, we can move mountains.

So state your faith. State it boldly in the face of your enemies.

Remember: darkness always flees from the light.

Faith: Walking on Water

I was so privileged to have my post featured on Multiply Goodness a few weeks ago. I am posting my words here as well in case you missed them:

---

I have a painting on my wall that I treasure: “Christ Walking on Water” painted in 1880 by Julius Von Klever. It was a gift from my mother at a time when I desperately needed it. I was discouraged, trying to become the mother of my dreams. But the days were long in our dark little basement apartment with two toddler boys and my husband in graduate school. My dream glowed like an ember before me, but it seemed so far out of reach. I just felt too small and weak to realize my divine potential.

Do you ever feel this way? Like God has this grand vision of how His glorious purposes will shine through you, and yet you feel so ordinary?

The day I hung this painting on our tiny dining room wall I felt a newfound courage well up inside me and our home was filled with a special sort of holiness. And as I gazed upon this painting day after day, the beautiful story of Christ walking on the water came alive in my mind and I became like Peter. I chose each day to go beyond the boat and walk on water—a place where I had no control, but learned to trust in my Savior and His plan for my life. Through those years that seemed to stretch on forever, but really swept by too swiftly, I surrendered to Christ’s will, and He in turn healed and empowered me. And little by little, He taught me how to be the mother I’d always dreamed of becoming.

Now I stand a bit farther down the road of life and can feel that He’s not done with me yet. There are still mountains for me to climb and dreams for me to realize.

As I knelt to pray a few nights ago, I was quite unexpectedly given a new charge from the Lord. Flashes of inspiration and insight flooded my heart and I was struck with wonder.

But then I began to doubt the reality of little me achieving something so grand, and for one brief moment, fear paralyzed my aspirations. But my scriptures beckoned to me from the nightstand, promising answers. So I picked them up and opened to where my ribbon marked my place in Matthew 14:25-31.

Where do you start when your dream looms like an ocean before you?

Right where you are.

“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea….

“And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out in fear.

“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”

Peter asks his Savior to invite him to come unto Him. You do the same every time you ask the Lord to show you His will for your life and how you can shine His light in your own special way.

“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”

And so the Savior invites and Peter steps out of the security of the ship and down into the rolling waves. Whether you do so boldly or perhaps with a bit of hesitation, you too step out of your ship of comfort and familiarity to accept the glorious task you’ve been given and walk towards Christ to learn how to achieve it.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

The wind and waves beat vehemently and for one split second Peter removes his eyes from the Savior. This moment of turning from faith to fear is when he starts to sink. Do you ever heed your doubts, fears, and the tempestuous voices around you when you embark on a dream?

After reading these verses, I felt my Savior reach down and catch me. My doubts and fears fled away, replaced with enveloping peace. I realized then that I’m really not so small and ordinary if I am walking on the water with the Savior of the world.

Are you ready to embrace your God-given dreams, walk to the Savior, and discover from Him how to shine forth His glory to the world?

Armed with faith in my Savior and with my gaze fixed steadfastly upon Him, I am ready to learn how to walk on water again.

When Afraid to Follow Your Dreams

I truly believe that if we trust Him, Heavenly Father will allow each of our days to unfold in miraculous wonder. Opportunities will fall into place, challenges will come to show us where we can grow into more peace, and tender mercies will find us at precisely the right moment.

But it really does take faith.

The other day I opened up Facebook and right at the top was a post from a dear friend from another state. She had shared this quote:

It came to me on a day when I needed courage to move forward with my dreams--dreams of homemaking, dreams of writing, and dreams of turning my home into a beautiful haven of peace. So I wrote it down on a sticky note and placed it on my desk where I would see it every day.

Since then, I have researched this quote and found that it's is actually a summary of a passage that Thoreau wrote in Walden:

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. . . . In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness."

And after reading this, I loved it even more.

As we advance in the direction of our dreams, whether large or small, we are showing our Heavenly Father that we are willing to take action to fulfill our dreams in the best way we know how. And as we pray for His help, He will create a path in front of us and remove the obstacles that appear. He will clear the way.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seekethfindeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 

~Matthew 7:7-11

So believe Him. Believe He is good, because He is. And because He loves you. He cares about your dreams and righteous desires. And He will help you achieve them.

Finally, one last word of confidence as you take your first uncertain step towards achieving your dreams:

"Be not moved. You have a great destiny before you. This is your moment! I truly believe that one virtuous young woman, led by the Spirit, can change the world!" ~Elaine S. Dalton

 And you will.

For the Hard Days

It's been one of those months. Where a whole lot goes wrong and yet somehow you're given the strength to press on and climb even higher.

I think I've been knee-deep in a tutorial on trusting in the Lord and especially in His timing.

It's when life is relatively easy that we view trials as hard taskmasters and wonder or even doubt if we would have the strength to do what others do if presented with similar hardships.

But when we are thrust into a refiner's fire of our own, it's in this space that we find our inner strength. We worry and struggle and feel a bit sorry for ourselves. But then, if we are still, we feel the enveloping peace of our faith engulfing us. From somewhere deep inside, the flame of our faith turns into a blazing fire. And our faith grows intensely stronger while simultaneously carrying us through the moments. And so we stand up, and arise, and walk the road "less traveled by." We walk His way.

A scripture from Isaiah has been running through my head:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We don't have to understand, but we do have to come to a place of acceptance for every thing the Lord places in our path. Because every single thing, whether triumph or trial, has the potential to liberate us--allowing us to live as the person we've always wanted to become.

And He sustains us every step of the way, reminding us again and again that everything will work out for our eternal good. Because He is good.

And I want to be good. I recognize this adversity as a blessed tool to draw my heart closer to my Father and Savior. And on a day when my schedule was overflowing, I decided to stop worrying and to instead commit myself to Christ--to be wholly consumed and centered in Him. I chose to view my appointments as opportunities to minister as He would. And I did. But the trials kept coming and the fire grew hotter still.

But even in the midst of the fire, He was there, still giving me good gifts.

Like calls from family offering support. Like visits from my mom and sister. Like my husband's last work appointment canceling so he could be with me. Like a text from a neighbor and an artichoke casserole given when I had doctor's appointments and four other commitments, and was trying to make dinner for another sick neighbor. Like strength to make hard decisions and then red lights after the decision was made to help us back up. Like a mother who is still serving and visiting and cooking and shopping for me and prayers from family and friends and three other friends offering to make me dinner and help with anything I need. And a host of other tender mercies that are causing my heart to brim with fullness and nearly burst in gratitude.

And yesterday, amidst it all, this song played for me and I knew it was sent from above.

Open My Hands (by Sara Groves)

I believe in a peace that flows deeper than pain
That broken find healing in love
Pain is no measure of his faithfulness
He withholds no good thing from us
No good thing from us, no good thing from us

I will open my hands, will open my heart
I will open my hands, will open my heart
I am nodding my head an emphatic yes
To all that You have for me 

Truly the Lord is good and this refiner's fire is gifting me gold. 

Simple Pleasures.

Fog enshrouded the frosty morning.

But inside, the world was cozy as my little girl and I enjoyed a January tea party.

We used her tiny tea set and dined on animal cookies and milk.

Quaint, small, and simple.

I want these days to last forever...

Do you have little rituals that are unique to you and your child? Special little pastimes shared just between the two of you?

For my daughter, there are tea parties and painting fingernails and trying new hairstyles.

For my oldest son, there are art projects and writing books.

For my second son, there are cuddles and puzzles.

For all three of them, there are dance parties and story time.

Being a mother (or a grandmother or an aunt....) is so joyous. 

Because as nurturers, we get to fill up our days {and our hearts} with these simple little pleasures enjoyed with pure, innocent, radiant children.

It doesn't get any better than that.