I was just watching someone that I admire on Instagram, and she was discussing what had recently happened in her life and her business. She was sharing all the amazing things that were going on, but she said she wanted to share, not to brag, but to explain that a lot of dreaming, planning, and action went into what she was now experiencing.
She said that she is now living her dream life but realizes that it was a process that has been in motion for a number of years. Her personal and professional success didn’t just “happen;” it was taking action despite a lot of self-doubt and failures along the way.
When she shared this, I thought to myself, “I’m living my dream life right now as well.” I’ve dreamt of having a happy marriage, building a successful coaching business, making enough money to buy what I want when I want it, having happy, successful kids, publishing a book, and becoming a thought leader in the accounting profession.
Until I saw her on Instagram, I really wasn’t acknowledging all the things I have in my life right now that I had only dreamed about over the years. Just like her, I’m not sharing this to brag but to explain that a lot of dreaming, planning, and action-taking went into what I am now experiencing.
Believe me, I get it – in the whirlwind of tax deadlines, soccer practice, and bedtime stories, it’s easy to lose sight of our own goals and dreams when we’re dealing with the demands of everyday life. But here’s the truth: you deserve to create and live your dream life.
I understand that all your responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming. But amidst the chaos, there lies the opportunity to create the life you’ve always envisioned.
For example, a life where you wake up each morning feeling excited and energized, knowing that your day is filled with purpose and passion. A life where you have the freedom to pursue your career ambitions without sacrificing precious moments with your loved ones.
A life where you prioritize self-care and self-discovery, knowing that by nurturing yourself, you become a better accountant, a better mom, and most importantly, a better version of yourself.
But why, you may ask, is it so important to create our dream life? Countless studies have shown that individuals who align their lives with their values and passions experience greater levels of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Think about it this way – what is it that mothers typically say we want for our kids? We want them to be happy. Well, we need to want that for ourselves as well.
Creating your dream life doesn’t happen overnight, but by taking steps towards creating it, you’ll also be able to wake up one day, look around you, and notice that you’re living the life you had been dreaming of.
This week I’m going to discuss knowing what you want and planning and executing your dream life.
Knowing what you want
The first step in creating your dream life is knowing what you actually want. You need to clarify what you want before you can figure out the steps to get it.
So, I suggest you grab a pen and paper (or your favorite note-taking app) because I’m going to be offering you a bunch of questions to consider:
What are the characteristics of your dream life? Consider as many factors as possible.
Who are the people around you? Who do you choose to spend the most time with?
Where do you want to live? Are you in a bustling city or out in the country?
How much money are you making? How are you using your money?
What does your ideal day look like? Picture it from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed.
What activities are you doing? How do you spend your time?
How do you feel throughout the day? Are you feeling balanced throughout the week?
Think about your career aspirations. Where do you see yourself in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
What steps can you take to get there? Who can help you to get there?
Consider your family life. What kind of relationship do you want to have with your kids and partner?
How can you prioritize quality time with your loved ones? What does quality time look like?
Don’t forget about your personal interests and hobbies. What activities bring you joy and fulfillment outside of work and family responsibilities?
Reflect on your values. What principles are most important to you?
How can you align your daily actions with these values? What about your weekly actions?
Reflect on your level of self-care. How often do you prioritize self-care?
What activities help you feel recharged and rejuvenated? Who helps you feel recharged and rejuvenated?
What are you doing for fun? If time and money weren’t an issue, what would you do for fun?
Consider your overall happiness levels. On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with your current life?
What areas do you feel could use improvement? What areas would you keep just the way they are?
Are there any areas of your life where you feel out of balance? What would balance look like?
How can you realign your priorities to create more harmony? What does harmony look like?
Think about your long-term goals. What legacy do you want to leave behind?
How can you start working towards those goals today? Who can support you?
Lastly, ask yourself: What would it look like to truly thrive in all areas of your life – personally, professionally, and emotionally?
Pause this episode and take some time to ponder these questions. Really dig deep into what you want out of life.
Your answers may surprise you, but they’ll also serve as a roadmap for creating the life you’ve always dreamed of. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers—only what feels true and authentic to you.
You don’t even have to share your answers with anyone yet, especially if you’re not sure about how supportive other people will be. This can be for your eyes only.
I believe most of us aren’t living our dream lives because we don’t take the time to ask and answer these questions. We complain about where our lives are at, but we’re not clear about what we would like instead.
Honestly, this first step is probably the most important one. All you need to do right now is get clarity, one question at a time.
You need intention and awareness first. Then you can start planning from there.
I would also suggest creating a vision board with images of what your dream life looks like. You’d be surprised how powerful a vision board is.
When I look back at the ones I’ve created over the years, I’m amazed at how almost everything has come to fruition so far. Things that I had only dreamed of a few years ago are now my reality.
Now, let’s delve into the practical steps of the Dream Life Process, which can turn your dreams into reality.
Planning and executing your dream life
Now that you’ve gained clarity on your dreams, let’s shift the focus to the next crucial step: planning and executing your dream life. Here’s how you can turn your vision into actionable steps.
First, you need to start prioritizing. I’m not saying you can’t have everything you want for your dream life, but you need to get clear about which things are the foundational things you can build upon.
You could create a flowchart that represents, if I have this, then it will lead to this and this. For example, if I go out on my own instead of staying an employee, then I’ll be able to build financial freedom and have more free time with my family.
Just know which parts of your dream life are crucial to focus on first in order to allow the rest to flow. Start by choosing one or two goals that will be foundational to your dream life.
Another exercise is “Dreamlining,” created by Tim Ferris. Essentially, it involves using a spreadsheet to calculate the cost of everything in your dream life, whether it’s a one-time purchase or a monthly fee like a mortgage.
Use the spreadsheet to calculate the cost of your dream life and average it by month. For example, your dream life might cost $10,000 a month on average, giving you an idea of how much you’ll need to make to support it.
This practical exercise can help you reverse-engineer your dream life. It provides you with some guidelines to work with and clarifies how much you need to make and save to support it.
If you’re not being overly lavish, this exercise can show you how attainable or affordable your dream life can be. It helps you to see, if this is what I need, then this is what I can do to work towards that.
The next exercise is to build a rough timeline for realizing your dream life. Again, go back to the earlier question, “Where do you see yourself in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?” and consider what you can do in 1, 5, or 10 years to make that possible.
Just be aware that we tend to overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in 10 years. Be kind to the future version of you who is going to be taking action toward your dream life by giving her plenty of time. You can’t rush this.
Once you’ve created your rough timeline, it’s time to break it down into the smallest steps possible. If you’ve heard me talk about time management at all, you know I recommend breaking things down as simply as possible to get your brain on board.
The truth is that a confused or overwhelmed brain will never lead to effective action. You need to make it so simple that your brain feels comfortable with each small step.
For example, when I had the goal of writing my book, “The Smarter Accountant,” in one year, I went to that future moment in time, July 31, 2022, and I reverse-engineered the big picture as well as each step along the way. I broke the goal down into months, then weeks, then days.
Once I had it broken down as simply as possible, everything (and I mean everything) was calendared. Then all I needed to do was follow my calendar, no matter what.
I know this sounds simpler than it was because I had a ton of mind drama around writing and publishing a book in a year, but because I know how to manage my mind, I was able to take action despite the drama. And my book was delivered to me from Amazon on July 29, 2022, two days earlier than I had planned!
As I wrap this up, here’s what I most want you to take away from this episode: Your dream life is within your control. Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder, starting your own business, or simply finding more joy in the everyday moments, the power is in your hands.
Summary
I understand that all your responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming. But amidst the chaos, there lies the opportunity to create the life you’ve always envisioned.
Creating your dream life doesn’t happen overnight, but by taking steps towards creating it, you’ll also be able to wake up one day, look around you, and notice that you’re living the life you had been dreaming of.