“If you don’t have a dream, how can you have a dream come true?” Jiminy Cricket

“If you don’t have a dream, how can you have a dream come true?” – Jiminy Cricket

Another really popular topic that I cover with clients is building a vision of what you want.  It’s surprisingly difficult.  So often we are conditioned to think of what we DON’T want and spend our lives working on how we try and get away from what we don’t want.  But what if we built a vision of what we DO want?  Most of us can usually rattle off things like somewhere nice to live, a good partner, health for ourselves and our family, a good job with nice people, enough money to live and have some fun.  Some of us may talk about places to travel, languages, instruments, skills that we want to learn and so on.  You could call these ‘low dreams’.

But what about conjuring up our wildest dreams?  The ones that seem a million miles away, impossible dreams?  One’s where we are not considering what’s possible, just what we would like.  When did you last do that?

As I write this I can notice the resistance that might be coming up in you, because it has come up in me too like: Who am I to have this dream? This is crazy - don’t do this to yourself! I don’t deserve to have this dream when there are so many problems in the world.

But in a world where practicality often overshadows imagination, the ability to dream your wildest dreams can be a powerful tool. Dreams are more than mere fantasies; they are the blueprints for future realities. They ignite passion, encourage innovation, and push us beyond our perceived limitations. So this is why dreaming big* is crucial and how my journey to owning a Cortijo in Spain became a testament to the transformative power of dreams.

*big does not necessarily mean becoming the next Prime Minister of the UK, Elon Musk or Taylor Swift or owning a Caribbean island it means finding YOUR wildest dreams - more of a feeling, a state or a way of being.  It might be simple or complex; there is no right, wrong or judgement, it’s just what moves you. Your OWN definition of success.

Why dreaming is important.

1. Ignites Passion and Purpose
   Wild dreams stir a deep sense of passion within us. This passion fuels our daily efforts and propels us toward our goals with unwavering dedication. It instills a sense of purpose, making every step of the journey meaningful and fulfilling.
2. Encourages Innovation
   When we dare to dream beyond the ordinary, we open ourselves to endless possibilities. This mindset encourage innovation, pushing us to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to challenges. Dreaming big breaks the chains of conventional thinking.
3. Builds Resilience
   Pursuing wild dreams is not always smooth sailing. The journey is often fraught with obstacles and setbacks. However, these challenges build resilience. Each hurdle overcome strengthens our resolve and prepares us for future trials, ultimately shaping us into stronger individuals.
4. Inspires Others
   Our dreams have the power to inspire those around us. When we passionately pursue our wildest dreams, we become beacons of hope and motivation for others. Our journey can encourage them to chase their own dreams, creating a ripple effect of inspiration and aspiration.

A personal story about dreaming

I’ve always been a bit of a dreamer:  I’d been on a few retreats and just qualified in reflexology, coaching, NLP and hypnotherapy and I had a dream to create and run my own retreat space. In 2004 I bought a run down Cortijo in the olive hills in Andalucia, 3km off the road. It’s a big dream and many people have called me crazy, naive, it’s a ‘pipe dream’.  There’s many  times I’ve thought they were right and sometimes this place has been a ball and chain around my ankle, paying a mortgage for 20 years on a property that’s not liveable.  And yet.  There is something magical, something special about this place. I keep coming back.  And I remember a friend of mine @christinemadden told me to think of it like an ISA - that it might ‘pay out’ sometime in the future.    Thank you for those words of wisdom Christine. 

After 20 years and meeting the love of my life who has also fallen in love with the vision of creating a special place, we have planning permission, we’ve dug a base for some foundation on the side of the mountain, part of the existing house has been demolished and we have our first concrete foundations and retaining wall built.  There is a long way to go but I am learning:

• That dreams don’t have a timescale, 
• That it’s about the journey - you just need to keep putting one step in front of the other
• Never underestimate the importance of planting the seed 
• If you have a vision of where you want to go, you are more likely to get there

We’re going to be sharing the journey, probably with a youtube channel and some short videos - if you are interested in following the journey please email me on [email protected] and I’ll make sure you know what’s happening.  You can also follow us on instagram @elcortijobuenavista

 “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman