If you are new to this blog, here's something you need to know about me. I generally have a Dream Queue.
Depending on what's in the queue or what's going on in my life, that Dream Queue is either moving along at a lovely clip or pace or man, that queue is stuck. Recently, my Dream Queue was totally stuck. So, let's interview myself, shall we?
.....By the way, if you have ever wondered what (life) coaching is like, this interview is what coaching is like. A lot of thought-provoking, honest questions and not the coach giving advice. Let's go to my inner self interview...
Hey Jen, what's a Dream Queue?
A Dream Queue is the place inside me where all of my dreams and big ideas go to wait for their turn.
Why do you capitalize Dream Queue?
Because it feels like it's a proper noun and deserves the attention and recognition.
What makes the queue stuck? (Hmmm...notice the lowercase....)
Great question! What makes my Dream Queue stuck is time (or feeling like I have lack of time). Or that work projects or classes I am teaching need my full attention and that I don't have space for dreams-into-action. Also, malaise and fear of the unknown.
What gets the queue unstuck?
Writing about it like I'm doing now. Coaching. I recently got coached on my Dream Queue and finally have some answers.
What are the answers?
The answers are that some dreams need to wait their turn. Some dreams are more time sensitive. Some dreams require me to collaborate with others (which leads to some stuckness....who do I want to collaborate with right now? Not everyone floats my boat). Some dreams ignite fear within me like "Will the time spent on this dream pay off? Will my return on effort pay off?"
When you say "pay off" do you mean money?
Not necessarily. Some dreams and ideas could generate extra income, but many dreams just generate joy - which to me is as important as real dollars. Actually, now that I am typing this...I think both are true. I like real money and joy.
So, what's holding you back, Jen?
Great question. What's holding me back is feeling like I have to get XYZ done before I begin moving my dreams through the queue.
What's true?
What's true is that yes, I do have some things that need to get done in life (like work, prepping for next semester, making sure my holiday shopping is complete, etc.) AND, in reality, those are excuses for letting my dreams sit in the queue for too long. What you focus on grows is one of my favorite quotes. I've been focusing on distractions and small wins. AND afraid to put forth effort into bigger, dreamier projects that may - in the short term - not feel like they are paying off.
What's next knowing this?
I am just realizing something....I need more small, micro wins. I crave more micro wins. Some of my Dream Queue ideas are so big that it feels like 6-12 months before I could see them paying off. The fear inside me doesn't want to wait so long to see "if" a dream is going to take off, workout, or generate joy or extra income. What I am also realizing is I need to take my big dreams and break them up into smaller chunks. Then, tackle one chunk at a time.
Jen, why are you shaking your head?
I'm shaking my head because I missed this! I missed that one, big dream is really just an accumulation of small, small steps.
What do you want to commit to, Jen?
I want to commit to taking one of my dreams out of the queue and making a list of all the small steps - small wins - I need to accomplish to make that dream come completely alive. Then, I will start taking a step one after another.
Jen, how will we know you've done that?
I'll report back here.
💜
With new insight and apparently a dream about to become queue-less,
Jen
