Dreamstorm...then Brainstorm

Dreamstorm...then Brainstorm

Big dreams move
mountains.

When was the last time you dreamed?  When was the last time you traded routine for curiosity or adventure?  It's easy to lose sight of our dreams.  They get blurred and camouflaged behind everyday life.  They climb in the backseat behind the kids, spouse, job, pets, aging parents, and whatever else is in the backseat.  As we come into a new year, the "temporal landmark" of a new year allows us the artificial clean slate to explore a new way to do life in the coming trip around the sun.  

Master plan for safe crackers.

Too often with the busyness of life, we get on the express train to the "how" without much consideration time spent on the "why," or the "what."  The old adage of "I'm too busy chopping the tree to sharpen the axe" hints at what we're talking about.  In the hustle of life, we zip from thing to thing, hardly thinking if we "should" do something and defaulting to "how" we'll get something done.  When we're looking at our one precious life and how see live our best life, it's important to carve out and invest the intentional time necessary to dream...then once we've outlined the "why/what" we can executive function our way to the "how" portion.  

There is energy in 
dreamstorming.

For example, the idea of getting married or having kids should start with a dream.  God gave us the ability to "figure it out" when we have to but the plan and intention of how we should do marriage and children.  When it is going well, not much is better than having children.  When you're backed into a corner with kids through whatever set of circumstances, it can be a beyond stressful time for both you and the kids.  We have folks in our circle who never had the dream of kids...but had them and they're distracted at best as parents.  We have others in our circle who dreamed about having kids, then brainstormed/researched how to do so best...and are amazing parents.  

It takes conversation and 
documentation.

When you think about a career, the same advice applies.  We can think about the things that we love doing, that electrify our life with passion.  Then we can work through the brainstorm components of how to make a living doing the thing we enjoy.  For example, the "follow your passion" of dreams only leaves many folks in a costly student loan debt situation without much for employable prospects.  The robotic "dreamstorm" only of going to law school to impress a parent leaves life pretty hollow.  

When we're looking at a new career (or a career change), the totality of the dream is
important.  You might like the idea of a career field...but don't want to move to Silicon Valley where the jobs are at.  Have the dream of "I like technology" coupled with the brainstorm of "how do I make this work" which could look like remote work, teaching at a community college vel, or some other combination.  When we are looking to make a change or advise those coming up behind us/raise children, the combination is important.  

Dream BIG!

As we allow ourselves to dream, the world takes on new possibilities for iteration and growth.  Too often without dreaming, we feel we're stuck in our ways and become static, self-limiting our options.  Chances are with a little open-ended brainstorming time, we come up with options and solutions we hadn't thought were in the realm of possibility.  Once we expand our alternatives with our creative sides, we can then use our rational sides to make a plan to make it happen.  

Lastly, as we close up, remember that dreamstorming and brainstorming go alongside commitment.  When you say "until death do us part" but really means that you dream about "until a newer model comes along" you're missing the point.  Use your powers of brainstorming and dreamstorming to look for those 1% improvements that make life better.  When you want to do a major overhaul, tackle those as a family unit, not as a mid-life crisis.  

As we come into a "new year, new you" take some time to dream about what you want to be this time next year.  What trips and adventures do you want to have done.  What skills and competencies you have acquired.  What books you've read and things you've done.  How you've helped serve others.  How you made the place a better place than you found it.  Spend a few quiet hours dreaming about what could be, then pick out a few items you're going to build plans/habits/systems around, then...just go do that.  Best of luck this year!

With you in the arena, from ours to yours...Happy Trails!

Call to Action: 

• Pick out three dreams you're fired up about...make a brainstorming session on how to make them a reality.  
• 1 - ___________________ 
• 2 - ___________________
• 3 - ___________________
• Discussion: Consider what you/your family could/would/should (level of commitment) and start/stop/sustain (action) as a family toward a shared family dream - vacation trip, moving to a new place, doing something crazy like a gap year, or something simple like dinner together at the table.  

Further Reading, Motivation, and References:

- Four Golden Rules of Brainstorming

- Family Brainstorm - https://www.familydreams.com/ - solid "blog" on Instagram movement.