Many years ago, I had a secret dream of being a writer. However, I was also in a season when I was balancing my big dreams with the reality of being a mother of five and having other responsibilities. The days seemed very long. Time moved slowly
But I had a decision to make.
Was I going to forget my dreams or be committed and figure out how to make them a reality?
I decided to be a “figure it out” kind of person.
During those hidden years, I began to create time, even in small pockets, to write and develop my craft. I didn’t always feel like I was making major headway toward my goals, but I kept working at it anyway.
I didn’t have a deadline.
I didn’t have a book contract.
I simply had a desire that I wanted to honor as best as I could.
Pursuing dreams – whether they be shared or hidden – doesn’t always require giant leaps but rather slow, steady, consistent, and intentional effort, even in the cracks and crevices of your everyday. Dreaming shouldn’t just be a passive exercise. Even big dreams require action and commitment in small, intentional ways.
Do you have a desire to move the needle forward in your life? Do you ever get discouraged by the investment you are able to make for your future dreams right now? If you’ve ever needed encouragement to believe in the desires of your heart or a gentle nudge to build toward a vision for your life, I have a few thoughts that can help.
Take small and consistent steps.
When my kids were young, I had to carve out moments to focus on my writing and speaking goals. Whether that meant waking up a little earlier, using nap time, or staying up late after everyone had gone to bed, I saw small but steady growth over time.
Get creative with managing your time! Ask yourself what you can do during the carpool line or while sitting at your children’s practices. Think about your dead time in the car on the way to work or while you wait in the doctor’s office.
Don’t know what you need to know in order to move the needle forward in your life? Learn on the go with “YouTube University” or a book that teaches the basics. Keep a laptop or a notebook with you always to jot down thoughts and ideas whenever they come. Small and consistent steps lead to steady progress toward your growth, personal development, and, ultimately, your dreams.
Give yourself grace.
During those younger days of mothering, I’d feel frustrated that I couldn’t write as much as I wanted because I was being pulled in multiple directions. I had to learn to embrace the season of life I was in, realizing that being present for my children was also part of my calling.
No matter the season you are in, you have to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. I’ve learned to tell myself, “Girl, you are doing the best you can right now.” Your ability to give grace to yourself is just as important as your small movements forward. Who you are is more important than what you do. Maintain your peace while still moving toward your goals, even if the progress is slower than you like.
Stay committed to your dreams.
Don’t let go of your dreams. My dream of being a writer didn’t happen overnight. It was a slow process that required patience. When raising my children, I had to make sure I stayed connected to my dreams by writing when I could. Over time, my small efforts accumulated into a larger body of work. The season I enjoy now as a writer came from the effort of tiny seeds planted over time and tended to carefully across many seasons.
Involve your family and friends in your journey.
Your daily responsibilities and commitments may feel so different than your big dreams. I know that my deep season of “mothering and wifing” often felt like a completely different life from my previous single-corporate-girl days and from my aspirations for using my gifts in this world. My commitment to my personal growth never waned. But I learned to let my current season and my desire for development coexist by including my family. Let your family in on your thoughts about your future. Let them participate as investors in your dreams! Involve your children and husband in the process. Ask them to help support you by taking on small tasks so that you’re a little freer to make time to move toward your goals.
Or maybe you can let your siblings or parents know what your desires are for your life and ask for their support. Think about getting your friends together and inviting a group of people you already know and love into accountability for supporting one another. Including your people on your journey allows your dreams to also become their dreams. Gathering others together also allows you to support them too! Make it a family or friends endeavor and give the gift of inviting others into the process of valuing dreams together.
Be intentional and focused.
Your time is a limited resource. Be intentional with your time. Even when progress is slow, set specific goals and work toward them with focus. This is how you stay disciplined with your dreams in the midst of your busy life.
You have to intentionally plan your days and weeks, setting focused and specific times for the pursuit of your desires. Time may seem short, but you can make sure you use your time well by being clear about what you need to accomplish during the time you have.
Actualizing your dreams will involve planning.
Over the years, I’ve jotted down ideas on sticky notes, legal pads, and spiral notebooks. However, the best movement I’ve seen in my life is when I wrote down my dreams in a book that would stay intact and stand the test of time so I could go back to it over and over again.
Quality paper, a pretty notebook, and smooth pens are important! Allow the tools that you use to be a source of enjoyment. In this season of my life, I’ve set out to also create a beautiful space where I can enjoy my dreams, too.
The tools you use and where you use them matter!
The Full Circle Planner is a sacred space where you can pour out your aspirations and reflections. It gives you space to not only dream but to plan out your path toward those dreams.
If you haven’t yet, purchase your dream planner today.
Let your planner be the place where you write your thoughts down about the life you hope to live. Let it also be a place where you’ll have my words to remind you of who you are and why you should pursue what really matters.
No matter how busy or chaotic your life is, you can find room to pursue your dreams. Even the largest of trees are grown from the tiniest of seeds. In the same way, even the hidden desires or God-given dreams you have for your life need a place to be planted. Even small thoughts need space and time to grow.
I know you might often feel discouraged by the speed at which you are moving forward, but I’m here to remind you that your investment in you matters and will make a difference!
Seed by seed and day by day, word by word, page by page, water and nurture your dreams.
When your dreams becoming reality seem like they will take forever…
Be patient.
Be committed.
Be expectant.
What you sow now always connects to what you will reap later.
And even if your growth seems slow, slow growth is still good growth.
Here’s to amazing dreams that grow deep roots in hidden years,
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Reflection Questions:
- What dream or desire have you been carrying that deserves more of your attention in this season?
- Where might you need to give yourself more grace for the pace of your progress?
- What “cracks and crevices” of your everyday life could you intentionally use to invest in your growth or your dreams?
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Chrystal is the Founder and CEO of The Sister Circle, an organization that exists to provide practical encouragement and equip women of faith to live with intention and purpose. Chrystal is also a best-selling author and speaker who reaches a wide audience, speaking at conferences, hosting her podcast, and leading the women’s ministry at her home church.
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