What choice will you make?

Once on your path to your dream career, have you had the experience of feeling confronted with a choice to choose to follow your dream – or give it up?

I have. And I’ve seen my clients experience it as well. Ronnie is a writer. She has been working hard to have her first novel published. In the time that we have worked together she has embraced her dream of becoming a published writer, written her first draft of her first novel, worked with critique groups, written several other novels, and secured an agent. She is still not published. She has strong support from her agent, and has received positive feedback from editors and publishing houses. But she has not yet achieved the big dream.

Ronnie is an inspiration to me. She knows it is only a matter of time. I know this too. She’s right on the brink of her dream coming true. We both can sense it.

But along the way, Ronnie has had moments of discouragement, and disappointment. She has questioned whether she should just quit, and go back to other career. The one she grew to hate, the one she left behind.

She gets job offers on a regular basis. She has naysayers in her life who just don’t understand her commitment to her new life, her true dream. But she resists them. She has learned to say no to them. And yes to her dream.

When she has moments of doubt, she remembers that this is what she longs to do. This is her dream. Ronnie enjoys writing. She enjoys creating and telling stories. She’s good at it, and she knows it. Instead of quitting, she digs deeper, and continues to work on her skills and her stories. She works to improve at her new craft. She renews her commitment to her dream.

Following the path to your dream job or dream career will require you to say no to opportunities to return to the old place. Let me caution you, once you know where you want to go, the old place will never be acceptable to you again.

Here are 3 simple things you can do to keep your faith, ignite your passion, and not get discouraged.

1. Review your dream. It’s easy to get caught up in your day to day activities, and lose sight of the dream itself. Take the time to imagine your dream once again, in vivid technicolor detail. Allow the dream to invigorate and inspire you.
   
   
2. Ask for support. When we start to get discouraged, it’s tempting to isolate ourselves. Make a point of actively seeking support and encouragement from your support system: friends, family, a coach, anyone in your corner who has faith in you and your dreams. Ronnie turned to her coach, writing group, and her agent, to ask for the support she needed.
   
   
3. Take a bold new action toward your dream. When we start to doubt, it’s tempting to stop taking actions and steps toward our dreams, and easy to get stuck spinning in the doubts. One way out is to take bold step forward. Is there something you’ve been deferring or putting off because it seemed too scary? Do that! Ronnie’s bold move was to connect with published authors she admired. Perhaps you’ve been postponing updating your resume, or contacting someone in your network who might be able to help you. Taking a bold step forward toward your dream is a great way to disrupt the doubts and discouragement, and reconnect with your passion for your dreams.

Have you been confronted with a choice to go back to the place you left? What did you choose? How do you stay committed to your goal?

Would you share your stories with me on my blog below…