I started The Dreaming Café in early 2009 because I had a strong desire to share what I had learned on my own life’s journey and to help others begin and continue their own creative journey to self discovery.

As The Dreaming Café has grown I began to look deeper. What was I really trying to do? How did I help people begin and continue on their creative journey to self discovery?

The answer that came is one I could not have foreseen prior to actually beginning to work with people and trying new things. The answer came out of doing, not just dreaming. I began to see what people needed and what I could provide overlapped. I realized that I really enjoyed what I was doing and that I was actually helping people.

So, what is it that I discovered? What is it that I do?

I help people see the world of possibilities open to them, help them begin to dream and show them how to take one small step at a time to turn their dreams and possibilities into reality.

Working with individuals and with groups I help people see the possibilities open to them to them for self-discovery, to creatively expressing themselves and possibilities for more personal freedom and independence through self-employment.

Working together, exploring, writing, and playing each person begins to see a whole new world of possibilities and dreams.

Once the light goes on, and their eyes light up with hope and possibility we move into stage two which is learning how to turn ideas and possibilities into reality. We break things down into small steps, set goals, establish accountability and begin moving forward one day at a time.

This is a process that has worked again and again for me throughout my life. But, it wasn’t until I consciously thought about it and began to systemically apply it in my life to build the life I dreamed about that I realized what a powerful tool breaking it down and taking one small step at a time is.

Now I show other people how to do this.

Between The Dreaming Café blog and weekly newsletter I share tons of free information.

I also teach online workshops, I work with individuals online and in person and I teach workshops and teleclasses.

And, I finished my first e-book, “Growing Your Business with Social Media and Other Free and Almost Free Online Tools“ and I am working on two more.

Everything I do is geared toward helping people see the world of possibilities open to them and turning them into reality.

I want people to visit The Dreaming Café and work with me, but then walk away with the tools they need to make their own dreams happen.

The creative journey to self discovery is about possibilities and reality. It is about dreaming and doing. It is about discovering who we are, why we are here and how we can best serve.

The Dreaming Café is my possibility, my dream, my reality, my path to self discovery and my way of serving others.

How about you? Are you ready to embrace your own path, to open your world to possibilities, to dream? Are you ready to being taking action and make your possibilities come alive?

To get started visit:

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Yesterday I wrote about moving from the unknowing and exploring stage to the knowing and expanding stage of building and living my dream.

I recognized all the things I had in my life and I am very grateful for the life I lead today.

But, as I continue to grow and to learn, I asked myself, “What would make my life better today?”

Reflecting on that question and journaling the answers this is what I came up with:

Finances – to begin earning significant income from my business projects to support me, my husband and my Mom without tapping my savings.

Spirituality – to deepen my spiritual practice, commit to a daily meditation practice, and connect to the Divine on a daily basis.

Physical self – to lose weight; be lean, fit and healthy; to move with ease; to make movement and exercise a daily part of my life; to eat ‘clean’ more consistently.

Inside living space – clean out the clutter – closets, rooms, attic, basement; finish remodeling the living room and kitchen – open them up, brighten them and keep ‘stuff’ to a minimum.

Outside space– create a landscaped oasis in the backyard and around the whole house – running water, birds, butterflies, a fire pit, benches and a place to write, read and paint.

Doing this exercise I realized it is all possible. It won’t happen overnight, but each item is possible.

Writing my original, ideal life essay in 2007 and committing to taking the tiny little baby steps each day to move towards what I wanted has changed my life dramatically.

I am happier and more fulfilled today than I have ever been.

This is not to say that it is easy, because a lot of times it isn’t, or that I don’t have down days, because I do. But, I will take the easy and the hard, the ups and the downs, to live a life of my dreams…and, I am!

Journaling for Self-Discovery Workshop
If you’d like to experience the benefits of journaling, join me for “Journaling for Self-Discovery. This a four-week interactive online course where I will share with you some of my favorite and most effective journaling exercises. This will be the last journaling class until next fall. To find out more and to register go to:
http://thedreamingcafe.eventbrite.com/

The other day while journaling I asked myself, “If money was not an issue, and I had all I needed and wanted, I would…”

When writing out my answers I was surprised at how closely my life today resembles the life essay I wrote in 2007.

When I wrote my ideal life essay I could in no way imagine any of it coming true. But, I wrote from heart and let the words flow. I let my dreams out of the dusty, cramped cave I hidden them away in for years and let them fly.

I wrote about where I lived, what I did, the people I hung out with, what I ate. I described a typical day from the way it looked, to the way it smelled, to the way I felt. I put as much detail as my imagination could muster into that essay and it ended up being over seven pages long.

Today, I am surprised by how much of it has come true. Not so much in the big picture details, but in the smaller details, and more importantly, how I feel.

I realized that in a lot of ways I am living my dream, my ideal life.

I have a beautiful home office that is all my own.

I’ve launched my own business, even made some money, and am on my way to living my self-employed dreams.

I connect with and spend time with my family and friends on a regular basis.

I am learning new things almost daily.

I am embracing my creativity on a daily basis.

I write and teach.

I travel.

I have time to relax and to read, sometimes for hours on end.

I feel peaceful, happy and fulfilled.

My journaling experience helped me recognize that I have what I need and want to some degree or another, and that I know what I want.

I’ve moved from unknowing and exploring to knowing and expanding. I am expanding my vision and building on the foundation I have built so far.

It all started because I gave myself permission to dream.

Journaling for Self-Discovery Workshop
If you’d like to experience the benefits of journaling, join me for “Journaling for Self-Discovery. This a four-week interactive online course where I will share with you some of my favorite and most effective journaling exercises. This will be the last journaling class until next fall. To find out more and to register go to: http://thedreamingcafe.eventbrite.com/

Sometimes the path to self-discovery shows us things we might not like about ourselves.

I’ve recently discovered something about myself that I am no particularly pleased with. I’ve probably known it for a long time, but never wanted to admit it or acknowledge it. It makes me cringe just thinking it, to even contemplate admitting it, but, here goes…

I’m lazy.

Deep breathe. Sigh. It’s done. I’ve said it.

Don’t they say that the first step is just to admit you have a problem?

I’m lazy.

Nope. Admitting it again didn’t make me feel any better.

It’s embarrassing really how easily I can fritter away the hours doing absolutely nothing while looking busier than chipmunk.

Last night I had a million and one brilliant ideas for blog posts, articles, workshops, books, events, art journaling, a video book review, and even an online tutorial for mind mapping.

This morning, blah. Nothing. No energy. No enthusiasm. No activity.

I might as well be wearing cement boots. I just can’t seem to get started. The lazy gene has been activated with a nuclear reactor and I sit here staring into space. (Well, I am writing this post, but that’s not counting for much today.)

Today is an anniversary of sorts and I think that is one reason I am out of sorts. Today marks 90-days since I walked out of the door and left my corporate job behind. 90-days. Twelve weeks. Three months. No matter how I look at it, it just seems like time draining away as my lazy butt sits around and looks out the window.

I can be quite productive when I want to be. And, I’ve had a few whirlwinds the last few months, but today isn’t one of them.

Maybe I’m not lazy. Maybe I am just beating myself up for not being as productive as I thought I’d be over the past 90-days.

Either way, I feel better now. You know my little secret. But, promise me something? Let’s just keep it between you and me. Okay? Thanks.

I’ll be back tomorrow and maybe, just maybe, I might finish that video book review.

I am beginning to enjoy the process of art journaling. I no longer worry of I am doing it right. I just let myself create. I am finding I lose myself in the process and feel a sense of release and calm when I am done.

So, here are a few pictures from my art journal from this past week. As always, a big thank you and giant hugs go out to Connie at Dirty Footprints Studios for inspiring me and encouraging me not to give up.

This one is my favorites. It helped provide peace and clarity…

This day I was feeling a little fractured; feeling pulled in too many directions

Realizing I have the potential to bridge the gap between the left brain and the right brain and to live comfortably in both worlds – the world of logic and reason and the world of intuition and creativity…

At a recent workshop I was trying to express my desire to help people and said. “I want to help people take their first steps.”

Another participant looked confused, tilted his head and said, “I don’t understand. Do you mean divorce?”

Well, not exactly.

When I was finished writing this post yesterday it occurred to me that even though I knew what I was trying to say, I knew not everyone would. Again, someone would be asking, “The first, five steps for what?”

These are the first, five steps you need to take to change your life in a big way; in a way that will lead to success, fulfillment and joy.

How do I know?

Because, I have repeatedly tried to change my life in the past, to go after a big dream and to create a life that I loved… and failed repeatedly.

You can succeed in life and be happy without going through these first, five steps. I did, to a certain degree. I experienced a high degree of success, especially in my professional life, but somethings were missing like hope, joy and unconditional love.

When I talk about a life I love, I am not just talking about work and professional success. I am talking about a life filled with hope and happiness; a life where I look forward to getting up everyday; I life filled with passion and purpose; a life surrounded by people I love and respect and who feel the same way about me; a life filled with beauty and love.

But, it wasn’t until I dug a little deeper and took each one of these first, five steps that I began to experience these things, that my world began to open up.

Taking these first, five steps changed my life in so many ways. The vision I held for what my life could look like has became a reality and so much more.

I want the same thing for everyone. I want everyone to live a life overflowing with hope, joy and love. To live that life you have to take the first steps. And, these are the first, five steps I discovered to help both you and I, live that life.

The First, Five Steps to Changing Your Life

1. Have a dream or big goal; a vision of what you want your life to look like.

You really can’t take a first step unless you have some idea of where you want to go. You don’t have to have a specific destination in mind or a clear picture in the beginning, but you do have to have some idea of what you want and who you want to be.

2. Recognize, accept and honor your dream with a non-judgmental, open, loving heart.

Don’t let common sense, negative self talk, past experiences or hurts diminish what calls to you.

Just sit with your dream. Live with it. Embrace it with open arms and hold it tight.

3. Ask for help.

Sometimes, before you can move forward you have to deal with, or clean up, ‘stuff’ from the past (or present). It isn’t always easy and it isn’t always possible to do this on your own.

Asking for help can take the form of a 12-step program, working with a therapist or a life coach.

Remember, there is no timeline for this process. Be patient with yourself. Healing from the inside out takes time and all of us have some type of healing to go through before we can move forward.

4. Be willing to change and commit to a life-long journey of learning, self-discovery and self-development.

Just because you reached out for help and resolved some old issues doesn’t mean you are done. Following a dream and becoming who you were meant to be means a lifetime commitment to learning and growing.

This can be a fun and exciting journey if you approach it as an adventure.

5. Begin to build relationships and share your dream.

No one succeeds on his/her own. Read the acknowledgments in any book; listen to the speeches of award winners at the Oscars or listen to your favorite athlete or team after a national championship win and you will discover that they all have a long list of people to thank.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you start, we all need support. But, you need to be careful who you share your dream with. It takes time to build new relationships and time to allow old relationships to expand to accommodate your dreams and who you are becoming. This process can be painful at times as you may have to let go of some relationships, but, in time, new ones will manifest.

These are the first, five steps that helped me begin moving in the direction of my dreams and the vision I held of the life I wanted. I am in no means done growing or exploring who I am and what I want, but without taking these first, five steps I wouldn’t be in a place where I could continue moving forward.

Sometimes the first, five steps can be the hardest, but once you start moving it gets easier.

A great post about the benefits of taking daily action was written by my friend and fellow blogger Ken Robert at MildlyCreative.com.

He always has some great insights and this post was especially insightful. These benefits are applicable to each of the five, first steps above and are a gentle reminder to stay on the path. Check them out at: http://www.mildlycreative.com/2009/11/do-something-daily-5-benefits-of-daily-action/

I hope that this post has been helpful. Leave a reply or email me at Sandy@TheDreamingCafe.com.
I’d love to hear from you.