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Follow your dreams ... what does that mean?
Learn how your internal wisdom can reveal your destiny.
By Lois McElravy
Often we associate "dream" to mean deepest desire, vision or ambition, and "follow your dreams" to mean pursuing your deepest desires. What if "dream" were to be interpreted as internal wisdom, and "follow your dreams" meant to be guided and inspired in unique and profound ways by our internal wisdom? Late one night last January, a puzzling dream roused me from a peaceful sleep. I envisioned myself presenting a talk at the MBN general meeting. I chuckled and thought, "Where did that come from?" Easily falling back asleep, I regarded my dream to have no meaning. Until the next night, I woke from the same dream. After tossing and turning for hours, I dragged my tired body out of bed at 3 a.m., and grabbed a piece of paper to jot down the thoughts that kept circulating inside my head. Perhaps if I recorded them on paper, I could settle back and fall asleep. I outlined an entire speech about "listening to your little voice." For several days following, a gnawing thought persisted, to call Kathy Schulte, and ask her about presenting a talk at our meeting. Resisting the notion, I reasoned that my speaking schedule for April and May already exceeded my capabilities. Intellectually, the decision was made not to contact Kathy. Still, at the most unusual times, the prompting to call would return. I continued to dismiss it. Annoyed and puzzled, I finally questioned, "What is going on?" Instantly, a realization overcame me. Ironically I was ignoring my "little voice," which was directing me to present a talk to our membership about listening to their "little voice." So, I made the call, and my talk was scheduled for the May meeting. Several times the following month, out of the blue, The Theme from Mahogany would come to mind and I found myself singing the first two verses. This seemed strange. So, I asked, "Why do I keep singing this song?" Immediately I knew it was to be the opening of my talk. As I considered different ways to start off my talk using this song, one of which included my singing it (God help us), an uncertainty remained. At a most unusual time, a random thought flashed through my brain; ask Bernadette Hunter to sing the opening of my talk. What! Surely she would think I had lost my mind. So, I put off asking her. Only, the urgency to approach her continued. Finally I relented and called her. Bernadette's voice echoed The Theme from Mahogany, as the opening of a 10 minute message I presented to MBN last May. "Do you know where you're going to? Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to? Do you know?" "Do you know what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open door... what are you hoping for? Do you know?" Dr. Alan B. Siegel, Ph.D., in his book titled, Dream Wisdom, says "Dreams give us access to hidden feelings and unexpressed needs. Dreams are a source of insight, creative inspiration, and inner wisdom that can guide us through all the ages and stages of our lives." Do you pay attention to your dreams? If your dreams seem like nonsense, do you ask yourself, "What does this mean?" Your "little voice" will provide the answers you are looking for, if you are listening.
Why was I prompted to deliver a talk to MBN? Sometimes we don't know why we feel compelled to do or say something. We just know that we are supposed to, and once we do, we are at peace. Based on the comments members shared with me after my presentation, I learned it wasn't about me. It was about providing a message that benefited them. "Dare to Dream" to become who you were always destined to be. "Follow your Dreams" and you will be led to the place you were always destined to go. ____________________ Lois McElravy, Lessons from Lois, works with individuals and organizations who want to learn how to effectively use humor, so they can handle the demands and pressures of work and home, maintain a flexible perspective, produce positive outcomes, and have more fun. Learning to laugh and "hangin' on with humor" rescued Lois from the distress and despair surrounding her daily life, and initiated her recovery from a brain injury. Her universal message offers hope, motivates participants to be faithful to do the small things, and conquer their challenges one day at a time. ©2006 Lois McElravy, Lessons from Lois - This article was published in the June 2006 issue of Missoula Businesswomen's Network Synergy Newsletter. Permission to reprint or repost this article is granted by notifying Lois McElravy, and including her name and contact information in the article. Contact Lois to speak at your next event: info@lessonsfromlois.com (406)251.2887 http://www.lessonsfromlois.com
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