A very important part of being happy and fullfilled is discovering and pursuing your dreams. Everyone has something they want in life, wishes hidden from others and possibly even themselves. As we come out of depression, we need to discover or rediscover what these dreams are. It may take time, but if we want to life a more fulfilled, happy life, we need to want to create something we are excited about, that inspires us.
Do you have dreams your future? Don?t write this question off as . ?Only kids have dreams. I?m an adult. I have responsibilities, bills to pay, people to care for?? Yes, and? You also have hopes and dreams. Almost everyone does. Those hopes and dreams are not silly, either. They?re what will fulfill your heart and soul and create more joy in your life.
Psychologists studying happiness conducted end-of-life surveys with elderly people in nursing homes and terminally ill younger people. The happiest among them are those who pursued what they wanted from life, who actively chased down their dreams.
What about those that were less happy? What?s their biggest regret? It?s rarely something they actually did. The biggest regrets most people have at the end of their lives are the things they didn?t do, those dreams they've let fall by the wayside, the dreams and aspirations they didn?t pursue, the lives they could have lived but didn?t.
You want to live a happy life, not reach your last days full of regrets and might-have-beens. So, what are your dreams? What do you want from life?
Grab some paper and a pen or pencil or your computer/tablet. If you?re sure what your dreams are, that?s great. Write them down. If not, it?s time for a brainstorming session. What would you do with your life if time and money were no obstacle? If you could do anything -anything at all -what would it be?
Don?t censor yourself. It doesn?t matter how silly or ridiculous it sounds. Write it all down. Be honest -don?t write ?buy a nice house and a fast car? if that?s not what you want deep down. Write what you want, not what friends, family, or society expects you to want! This is YOUR life.
If you?re still having trouble, think back to the little kid you once were. What did that child want, back when there were no limits, and the world was full of possibility? What did you answer when someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up? What did you pretend to be when playing? Write those things down. Again, don?t judge or censor.
This activity could take you just a few minutes, or you might have to come back to it over several days. But when it?s done, you?re going to have a good starting point for what you want from life. Your next step will be deciding which of those dreams you want to pursue and what action steps you need to take.
