Animation: Turn your dream into reality
If you have a dream, and don’t know how to achieve it, read this:
Step One: Define Your Dream
What do you want? Who do you want to be? What matters most to you? Clarity around these questions is essential, and the first place where we might get tripped up. It’s important that we define our dreams for ourselves, that they are personally meaningful and that they come from within — rather than Old Happy goals which are goals we feel like we ‘should’ have due to external or societal influences.
Step Two: Turn Your Dream Into Goals
Work backwards from your dream: what are the achievements that get you from here to there? What have other people done who have taken a similar path? Make your goals very clear and specific, as well as achievable. You might need to revisit these goals over time and practice shifting them flexibly as different new situations, learnings or opportunities present themselves.
Step Three: Break Your Goals Into Steps
Turn to the first goal and break it down even further into smaller steps. The smaller the step, the easier it will be for you to take action. If you’ve ever set a goal and then found yourself completely frozen and unable to take action, it’s likely because you made the step too big (and thus, scary!) Be kind to yourself and make your steps small.
Step Four: Take It One Step At A Time
Then — do it! Take that step! Action is the greatest motivator. Every step you take towards your goal helps build you towards your dream, and in turn, that creates greater self-efficacy, confidence, and optimism; these then in turn make it even easier to take action, leading to a positive upward spiral. And finally, practice self-compassion. Mistakes, setbacks and missed days are inevitable. Studies have found that those who are more compassionate in those moments are more likely to achieve their goals.
Get our free daily newsletter
Start your day with a piece of art and a science-backed tip.
It’s the only email that makes you happier.
