Click
here to downloadAchieving Your Dreams
Dear YMCA Members and Friends,
One does not discover new lands unless consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time ...
Do you have a dream, a vision or desire in your life that is unfulfilled? Not long ago I read a wonderful little book by Bruce Wilkinson called The Dream Giver. In it, he talks about the 8 Universal Stages of Achieving Your Dreams. I hope in sharing these principles with you that you will be encouraged to pursue your passion and live a life of purpose.
1) Discovering Your Dream-This is the inner desire to achieve something significant.
2) This Is Your Dream-Every dream is unique to the Dreamer, utilizing that person's talents, gifts, passions and life situation. The Dream is always related to the meeting of needs. The Dream is the essence of one's Destiny. The Dream is located in the heart of the Dreamer as he lives in the Land of Familiar.
3) Your Comfort Zone-The Dreamer struggles to break free from the inner inhibitions of security and pursue the Dream, which always lies outside the Comfort Zone. The further one moves from the center of the Comfort Zone, the more distress and anxiety are felt.
4) The Border Land (Border Bullies!)-The reality is that most family, friends and acquaintances will be opposed to the Dream, due to the fact that it may disrupt their own Comfort Zones-and cause instability, uncertainty and distress. These opponents live around the borders of one's Comfort Zone and may be Border Bullies, Border Buddies, or Border Busters.
5) The Waste Land-When the Dreamer breaks free from the Comfort Zone and Border Land, he naturally expects to move directly into doing the Dream. Unfortunately, however, the desert experience usually awaits him-delays and frustrations that seem never to end. The purpose of the Waste Land is to prepare the Dreamer to achieve the Dream, which lies beyond present capabilities.
6) Sanctuary-This an optional offer of restoration by the Dream Giver, after the long and draining Waste Land. The Dreamer is invited to move through three distinct breakthroughs in the Pool of Restoration, the Light of Relationship and the Summit of Relinquishment.
7) The Valley of the Giants-The Giants are external threats-whether merely obstacles, or fierce opposition that the Dreamer must overcome in order to achieve the Dream. These are such Giants as MoneyLess, Corruption and Oppression.
8) The Land of Promise-Finally the Dreamer is able to fulfill the Dream in the location and in the way that he desired in the Land of Familiar. Ultimately, the Dream is located in the heart of the needs of others. The challenge continues as the Dream Giver later invites the Dreamer to leave this new Land of Familiar and go once again to the next level of Dream-fulfillment.
Every one of us was made for a greater purpose. What is your dream? Surely you have something deep in your heart. Close your eyes for a moment and think about it ... can you see it? Now get out of your Comfort Zone and go live it!
Brian Page
Executive Director
