stop dreaming and start doing

6 Mindful Techniques to Stop Dreaming and Start Doing

16 September 2019 | by Brittany Martin

Head lost in the clouds? Dreaming all day long but your reality is just not the same? Are you just a dreamer? If you are, then your reality will never meet up to your fantasies, but if you want to make your dreams a reality, then it’s time to start doing.

Become a doer.

How to Stop Dreaming and Start Doing

Here are 6 mindful techniques to implement in your life to stop dreaming and start doing. Apply these as they resonate with you, relate to you and inspire you. 

1. Be Present

We have this amazing ability to imagine and simulate the future and we spend more time in our minds than in the moment. This is what dreaming is all about. Creating a mental image of what we want our future to look like. However, this distracts us and takes us away from the present. 

Therefore, you must be mindful and aware of your thoughts to be more present in the world and in yourself. It will be hard to make a plan to reach your dream, if you are not aware of your current situation and how you can begin to take steps towards it.

How can I be more present?

Here are a few techniques you can introduce to be more present, stop dreaming and start doing:

Meditation

Meditating is a peaceful activity for you to be more present. Focus on your breathing and your energy and let your thoughts slowly quiet. Do not force yourself to clear your mind and feel negative if you cannot feel quiet. 

Journaling

Keeping a journal can be a very effective technique to help you be more present. Write down your thoughts in the morning to ground yourself and understand your thoughts, your intentions for the day and reflect in the evening. This helps you be more aware of your thoughts and actions each day.

Tasking

Do you have those times when you get to work or home and can’t remember how you got there? This is because we aren’t present and on autopilot, letting our thoughts overwhelm us and not be conscious of our actions. So, during the day, recognise times when you are not present and bring your thoughts to the present and what you are doing. 

2. Accountability

Taking accountability for your actions is key in mindfully taking action. Many of us believe we are victims of our situation and our life is a result of other people’s actions. This is not taking accountability for the decisions YOU have made and how you got to where you are now.

Taking accountability is a huge step to stop dreaming and start doing because then you can make the right decisions for yourself. Own your situation and your emotions. The best place to start is evaluating your life right now:

  1. How did you get here?
  2. What decisions have directed you here?
  3. Why did you make these choices?
  4. Who has helped you, who has hindered you?
  5. What could I have done differently?
  6. How does my current situation affect me emotionally?

When you sit back and analyse this information, you get a much better perspective of what has lead you here and realise your accountability in it. Not only do you need to take accountability for your previous actions, but you also need to hold yourself accountable for the actions you will take in the future.

This is an important thought process you need to stop dreaming and start doing. You know the value of your actions and the impact you and only you have on your future. You are in control and personal accountability allows you set goals and follow through with them too.

comfort zone

3. Step out of your Comfort Zone

One thing that holds so many people back, is their comfort zone. The comfort zone is what keeps us stagnant and stuck because it feels familiar and safe. How will you stop dreaming and start doing if you are not brave enough to take the risk, step out of comfort and make a change?

It can be difficult and scary to leave the comfort zone behind when we have a fear of failure and do not know the outcome. However, stepping out of your comfort zone is necessary to start making the right steps and progress towards your dream life. 

To stop dreaming and start doing you can:

  • Seek new opportunities
  • Say yes to challenges
  • Learn something new
  • Put yourself first

Ultimately, by holding yourself accountable and seeking new opportunities outside your comfort zone, you become a doer!

4. Journaling

Journaling is important to be more mindful and present every day. Writing in a journal is very effective to stop dreaming and start acting because it gives you something to be accountable to, a focus for each day and a place for your thoughts.

A gratitude Journal

Keeping a gratitude journal is great for improving your mindset and outlook on life right now. Every morning write down 5 things you are grateful for today. This boosts your morale, increases your present awareness and appreciate everything you have around you.

Daily Intentions

Writing down your daily intentions is a great use of a journal. This helps keep you accountable for your actions and achievements every day, as well as creating direction and focus for your day. When you are intentional and mindful of your actions you can make exponential progress.

Self Reflection

A journal is also a great addition to your evening routine. Reflect every night on the day, your actions and progress, your emotions and thoughts and see what was successful and what was not. This creates more awareness of yourself and how you react to certain situations. Gradually you can make changes and see improvements in yourself.

embrace failure

5. Embrace Failure

Failure is difficult for many people to face but this is only because of the mindset they hold. To embrace failure you can stop dreaming and start doing as you know failure is part of the process. Failure is not the end, it is not a sign that you cannot achieve your dream, and it is not what defines you.

Instead, turn your fixed mindset into a growth mindset. This means recognising that you’re on the path and you are just not there yet. This small thought can completely change your outlook on any failures you have, past and present. Any failures are learning opportunities and opportunities for growth.

Therefore, when faced with failure, ask these questions instead:

  • How can I do things differently next time?
  • What lead me to not succeeding?
  • Are there more things I need to learn first?
  • Has may attitude effected my success?
  • Can I create a new plan based on the information I have learnt from this experience?
  • How does this failure compare to previous ones?
  • What was successful in this process and what was not successful?

Analyse and examine everything about your progress and what lead to the failure so that you can learn from it and make a new, better plan. 

It is difficult to come back after a failure, but it is all a part of the journey to your dreams. This mindful growth is what will help you stop dreaming and start doing because you are no longer scared of failure… you embrace it. 

6. Passion and Hunger

Sometimes a dream can feel so far away and unachievable that it becomes a negative feeling. But what dreams really embody is a passion and hunger for more, for difference and for life. Your dream should be what keeps you motivated, focused and desperate for new things.

Start pursuing the things that set your heart on fire, light you up and make you love life. Let your passion and hunger guide you and steer you in the right direction to make your dream real and a success.

Featured image by Lindie Wilton

These tips are a way for you to stop dreaming and start doing in your everyday life. Integrate the steps that resonate with you most and start taking responsibility for your future. When you put your mind to it, believe in it and feel it, anything is possible.

Have you tried any of the techniques in this article? Let us know in the comments and let’s share our experiences.