When desire dies, fear is born.

Do you have a big goal or a desire that lights up your heart?

Without something to work towards or hope for, life would be dreary! As children, we are bright-eyed and full of dreams, believing anything is possible. But as we grow older, we get caught up in the fears of the world and let some of our desires die. We stop believing that anything is possible like we did when we were kids.

So, how can you combat fear and live your dreams?

5 Ways to Nurture Your Dreams and Keep Fear Away

Get Clear on Your Desire and Dreams

What do you desire? What is your dream? Many people make the mistake of not getting clear on their goals. For example, they will say “I want to be rich”. Okay, but what does rich mean? Getting an extra $1,000 per month? Winning the lottery? Or making $1 million a year?

Get Clear On your Why

Understand why you want to achieve your dream. Why do you want this? What will it bring you? How will you feel? Get specific.

For example, if you want an extra $10,000 per month, what will you do with it? Will you travel the world? Will you buy a fancy house? Will you invest it in stocks? 

Why do you want this $10,000 per month?

Own Your Motivation

Your motivation is a crucial element in the journey of bringing your goals into reality. Our dreams require work and can often ask us to get out of our comfort zones, be uncomfortable, and do things we don’t feel like doing. In those moments where you have to give up immediate pleasure and satisfaction for a long-term gain, the only way you will succeed is if you know for sure WHAT you want (step 1) and WHY you want it (step 2).

Keep these two answers in front of you, where you can easily see them multiple times a day, to stay reminded of your dreams.

Fight Procrastination

As we work towards our goals and build momentum, we feel more encouraged and motivated.

However, when we procrastinate, waiting for the right time (which never comes, by the way!), we end up not taking any action. This emptiness causes us to become complacent, washing out our desires. If you never take action towards achieving your goals, you will never taste success or feel motivated. Over time, you will forget why you even wanted your goal in the first place.

Procrastination extinguishes the spark of desire we once felt for our goals. So, stop waiting for one day, for the right time, or the perfect situation, and take action! Start with the small tasks, build momentum, and get the ball rolling.

Face Your Fears

When your desire dies, fear is born. However, fears can also kill desires. Some common fears are the fear of failure, fear of being judged, or the fear of the unknown.

So how does our fear hold us back? It depends how we respond.

One of the responses to fear is the freeze response. This is when we don’t do anything. This might look like sitting down to work, but ending up staring at the laptop screen, doing nothing.

Another response to fear is the flight response. In this response, we run away from the ‘danger’. Have you ever avoided your to-do list and ended up watching hours of YouTube videos, deep cleaning your home, or shopping online? That’s an example of a ‘flight’ response.

So instead of running away or freezing up, face your fears. Ask “what if”. Show yourself compassion. And then get to work on your goals and desires. Your dreams and desires make you unique and make life meaningful. So, pursue your desires and achieve your goals! With these tips, you can stay focused and committed to bring all your dreams into reality.