Have you given up on your dreams?

Jul 11, 2010

Editor's note: The Coaches Corner column appears regularly on the DrBicuspid.com advice and opinion page, Second Opinion.

Before reading the rest of this article, I want you to find a comfortable, seated position in a place without interruptions, close your eyes, and take slow, deep breaths for several minutes. Get in touch with your beating heart and notice whether it's beating slow or fast, and continue breathing until you feel at peace. While you're doing that, focus on something or someone you are grateful for. When you have found that zone, continue with this article.

I trust that you've done what I asked because if you haven't, the rest of the article will mostly not move you to action the way it's intended.

I want you to think back many years ago, when you formulated your first dreams about what you wanted from life. Perhaps some of them involved dentistry, perhaps some didn't; it really doesn't matter, as I'd like you to focus on the context of the dreams.

Our dreams are a longing of our soul to which we consciously -- or unconsciously -- move toward fulfilling. They reflect our values, our heart -- those things that matter most to us. Not moving toward them creates conflict in our life, our psyche, our attitude, and so much more. We soon lose sight of those dreams, and we develop strategies for dealing with those losses. We justify, rationalize, give up, get angry, escape, or otherwise stay frustrated. What strategies have you developed?

Even more important: What dreams have you given up on?

Be honest because no one will know except you.

As a professional coach, I hear the disappointment in the voices of so many who are not living their dreams -- and the truth is that not much is preventing us from doing so. Our dreams are all possible if we're willing to make the choices to live them. Sometimes the journey is short to reach the destination of our dreams, sometimes it's not.

Regardless of the number of dreams or the length of the journeys that will take us there, I'm 100% committed to assisting you in reaching them.

All you have to do to get in touch with your dreams is to stop the self-defeating chatter in your head and map out what must be done to live your dreams. Countless have done it before you, and more will do it after you.

Are you willing?

Don Deems, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., known as the Dentist's Coach, is a co-founder of the Dental Coaches Association, an organization of dentists who are professional coaches committed to bringing professional coaching to the dental profession. Learn more about professional coaching by visiting www.dentalcoachesassociation.org or www.drdondeems.com.

The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.