We all have dreams. Whether yours are to travel the world, build a successful business, have a baby or all three, you know what it feels like to want a specific thing to happen, usually within a specific time frame. You may work hard and use all of the manifesting tools you know to reach your goal. Most of us invest financially and emotionally to create our dream. If you’re really honest with yourself, have you become so busy plotting and planning the future, that you’ve forgotten to enjoy the present?

I see this phenomenon in my practice often. Clients believing they’ll be happy when and ONLY when certain dreams are fulfilled. It might be when they get promoted, own a home, get married, have a baby, lose ten pounds, have their own business or blog or…you get the point. The problem with this future based strategy is that, the future is not guaranteed to us.

The only moment we know for sure that we will experience is the one we are experiencing right now.

That is not to imply that planning for the future is frivolous or wrong. I am simply saying that when you dream so intently that you forget to focus on what is right in front of you, you are robbing yourself of experiencing your actual life. If you can’t truly appreciate what you have what makes you think you will appreciate more of anything? If your mind and heart are not engaged in the present moment, you miss it. And once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.

Think about that for a minute.

Don’t get so busy planning your life in the FUTURE, that you miss living it NOW.
@Terri_Cole (Click to Tweet!)

What I know to be true is that real joy can only found in the here and now. And while dreams and goals motivate you to move forward in life, gratitude and present moment consciousness are the keys to happiness now. When you can look around and appreciate all that you have while still nourishing your dreams, you’ll be fulfilled in a deep and meaningful way.

Hopefully, as you evolve and change so do your dreams. Many of the things I thought had to happen, for me to be happy, didn’t. And you know what? I am happy. If you can be mindful to revise, revisit and sometimes retire dreams that no longer make sense in your life, you can alleviate the pressure or a sense of failure that dreams unfulfilled can inspire.

“Live each present moment completely and the future will take care of itself. Fully enjoy the wonder and beauty of each instant” – Paramahansa Yogananda

I can honestly say I am not nearly as cool and unattached as Paramahansa Yogananda seems to be in the above quote but I do believe, that living more and obsessively planning less allows the energy of success to flow to you more easily. Please allow some time this weekend to take an honest inventory of your dreams. Are you so future focused that you’re missing your precious daily life? What dreams are you willing to revise or release all together? Drop a comment here or connect with me on my FaceBook page. I love hearing from you.

Have a great week and as always, take care of you.

Love Love Love,

Terri

Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist, transformation coach, and an expert at turning fear into freedom. Sign up for Terri’s weekly Tune Up Tips and follow her on Twitter.

Image courtesy of Alexandra Ventura.