What To Do When Your Dreams Aren’t Coming True
Updated: Aug 5, 2024
Written by: Maryann Rivera-Dannert, MSL, CLC, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Once upon a time, you dreamt of being a high-level executive, with the corner office, leather chair, mahogany desk, and bookshelf. Your desires were to perhaps be your own boss, managing your time – as you saw fit. On a less professional level, maybe you just wanted to get married, have a family and live happily ever after.
Yet, life has thrown a few curve balls and you feel as though none of your dreams are coming or have come true.
The constant derailment has you second guessing your abilities and worthiness. And to add salt to the wound, you are constantly reminded of how successful your friends and family are by their social media updates. Their flashy reels just make you want to crawl under a rock and never come out.
Do you see yourself in any of the above?
I’m a huge believer that if you are still breathing, there is still time for you to become the person you’ve always desired. Below I want to share five reflective questions, for you to consider as we enter the second half of 2022:
What are my fears?
What does success mean to me?
In the past six months, what have I accomplished?
What does the best version of me look like?
What are my values?
What are my fears? There is a strong possibility that your limiting beliefs are keeping you from making progress. Words spoken over us; negative or positive, when continuously repeated, seep into our subconscious. Because we’ve heard these words over and over again, we start to act them out and believe them in real life. It is important to know what your true fears are. Make a list of everything you feel and then ask yourself where these fears are coming from? Were these fears passed on to you? Were these fears prompted by something that happened to you? Or were these fears developed because of what you see in the media and those around you? Get to the root of the matter, so you can start chipping away at it and blossom into the real you.
What does success mean to me? Success is something that is personal, and it is not a one-size-fits-all. Your view of success should align with your values, morals, belief system, and abilities. How you view success will differ from that of your closest friends and family, and that is okay. For one person success could be earning $100,000 a year, while for another it could be being home at 6pm every evening to have a family meal. So, what is your definition of success, be honest and make no apologies.
In the past six months, what have I accomplished? We get so wrapped up in chasing the next best thing, that we lose sight of what we have accomplished. When we don’t take a moment to acknowledge what we have done and celebrate those wins, we can become disillusioned, depressed, anxious, and much more. If you are purposeful on slowing down, acknowledging what you have achieved, and celebrate – no matter whether you’ve attained something big or small, it will provide a boost of confidence. In turn, that boost will excite you and push you to keep pressing forward.
What does the best version of me look like? You want success, you’ve definite what success means to you, but what does the best version of you look like? That version of you should be an elevated version of your current self. Are you dressing differently? What’s your style? What does your hairstyle look like? Does the outer you match with the inner you? Are you confident, focused, determined, goal-oriented? Or you are flying around whichever way the wind blows? What does your environment look like? Is your space clean and organized or in a disarray? What are you reading? Watching? What types of conversations are you having and whom are you having them with?
What are my values? Every decision you make; from the clothes that you wear to the friendships that you keep, to the foods that you eat, to the job you have or the business venture you launch, should all align with your values. If you do not know what you value, someone else will determine them for you and you’ll end up in a hamster wheel – continuously spinning and not going anywhere. What do you value? Family? Freedom? Spiritual connection with your Higher Power? Leaving a legacy? Paying it forward? Health? Make a list and put it all down. Then take that long list and narrow it down to your top 3-5 and make those your driving force. From today forward, live your life and make every decision based on those 3-5 values.
As you’ve read through this article and these five reflective questions, I want to remind you that you are still breathing, which means that you still have time to create and live your best life – unapologetically. Your dreams do not have an expiration date – so decide today to give it your all and go for it!
If you’ve enjoyed this article, I invite you to check out my other writings, and let’s connect.
If this article made you pause and think and you would like more content like this, let’s connect via Instagram, Facebook, Website, LinkedIn. If you are ready to silence your insecurities, build healthy boundaries and live your best life, book a complimentary discovery call with me.
Remember, you are Fearless and Fabulous, you are a priority, and you matter!
Maryann Rivera-Dannert, MSL, CLC, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Affectionately referred to as the Fearless Living Coach, Maryann Rivera-Dannert is the FEAR-less dealer every woman needs in her corner.
The Fearless Living Coach learned early on how to be what she would later become. Striving to be better than what life handed her, the conquering spirit within arose and gave her the courage and realization she needed to recognize her unique value as a woman. With a background filled with adversity, instability, and dysfunction, Maryann had much stacked against her. Yet, she didn’t allow what happened in her formative years to stop her from becoming who she is today.
Maryann is a certified life coach who holds an MS in Leadership and a BS in Organizational Management. She is a 5x published author and 3x best-selling author. She has been featured in various publications, and Maryann is also the host and creator of the Fearless Fridays with Maryann podcast, which seeks to empower and transform women to live their best life today.
