How To Leave Your Job To Realize Your Dreams

Chances are the idea of leaving your job to realize your dreams terrifies you. It is a normal and expected feeling, even a good one. As you do make the jump though, be proud of yourself for making a choice to escape the ordinary. Most people never make it past the thought. But what now?

How will you pay your bills? What if your dreams are too big? Does your decision have an impact on your loved ones? How are you going to survive?

All I can tell you is that education will only get you so far if you do not use the gift of realizing your dreams. Countless people dream about dropping out of the rat race. They have the desire to get off the hamster's wheel and find a way to spend more time doing what they love, but most of them do not act on it.

Therefore, I enthusiastically approve the life decision of someone that quit their job to go after their dreams. I admire such people for daring because thrilling things often happen when they step out of their comfort zone and make room to chase their dreams.

However, let me be brutally honest with you. When you jump, do not expect your parachute to open right away because you are going to hit some rocks, get your skin scratched on the cliffs, have your ego bruised, and you may suffer for a while, but eventually, the parachute will open. It has to open if you keep going. But one sure thing is that if you do not jump, your parachute will never open.

To realize your dreams, you also have to deal with the emotional realities such as fighting doubt or keeping daily motivation. It is a real life change! There are many challenges along the way, both mental and emotional. In any case, I would encourage you to take the leap to reach your visions.

What Keeps People Motivated 

It took me a little less than two years to make an around-the-clock stable income, and it will take a bit more to be financially free. I went broke several times. I was getting help from my best friend for a couple of months. And then, I moved back with my previous roommate. For all of 2016, I worked 12 to 16 hour a day while most of my ventures failed and made no money. It was only this year that I started to realize my dreams, reap the rewards, and for now, I keep working long hours.

No lie, it was stressful, and still is at times. You might ask what kept and keeps me motivated during such difficult period? Well, it was fear. Yes, fear, because I was terrified of being unsuccessful. I told no one, so I was alone. That fear came from the idea that I would fail and have to go back to doing a job I hate. This fear stopped me from sleeping many nights, teeth clenched together but more importantly, it kept me going.

Of course, to avoid such thing, you could build your dream business on the side until you have a steady income to leave your job. But I believe that if I had done it that way, I would not have made it this far. It would have been too easy some days to work less on it or give up. This fear is what makes you committed. You have to win or die trying.

The Leap of Faith for Your Dreams 

There always comes a time to take the leap of faith to chase your dreams entirely. There comes the point where enough momentum is built, and you cannot progress any further as you both pursue your dreams and have a job.

You then need the emotional drive to push you to accomplish your dreams. The jump comes the moment you have that gut feeling where you know what you should do. Feeling it is not enough, you have actually to get up and do it. If you continue hating your work day after day, waiting for something to happen, you will be trapped in mediocrity.

So understand not to be too comfortable with the life you have now to do what it takes to create a better life. You have to break the barriers by putting yourself outside the box to make yourself fight for your dreams.

How far can you go to realize your dreams? I sold the small possessions I had, even the new furniture I had acquired. I even stopped my hobbies until recently. You will lose contact with many people, but that always happens on the way to success. You just have to know that all of these things return once you become successful. But giving up should never be an option.

The Courage to Go after Your Dreams 

You need to realize your dreams. Too many people give up and stop chasing their dreams. They end up bitter, looking back with regrets on missed chances. You owe it to yourself to at least try. The world might thank you for it someday.

Those who do give up do not realize how unhappy they are with their job or their life. Deep down, they know the answer to their sadness, which always involves change, but they do not go forward with the difficult part of making the change.

If your job is not a good fit for you anymore, it means it is time to consider how you can either improve the issues or think about leaving it. If you feel miserable every morning, if you are anxious just thinking about your job, or if you are no longer productive at work, it is a good sign that the time has come to move on.

Such work has a negative impact on you physically and mentally. You are not growing or learning anything new, you are stagnating, and it might be the signal for you to go after your dreams instead.

All of these signs show you that you should be looking for a new or better opportunity.

Realize Your Dreams Now 

Do not wait, realize your dreams now because it is not easy to pause and reflect on your life when you have responsibilities. You have to understand that when you are busy working for someone else; you begin to put off what matters to you. What are you working for? For most people, it is simply survival so they can only live day after day.

On the other hand, going after your dreams is a much more promising scenario, but of course, it does not come without taking risks. But it comes with doing what you desire as well as waking up every day with passion and full of energy knowing that you have a mission and purpose in life.

You can get off the hamster's wheel and away from the dull nine to five job cycle. You can be your own boss and be free. Of course, the future is no guarantee, but whether you work for someone else or follow your path, you could fail both ways. You may as well choose to do what you want.

I understand that some people are just not made to be independent; some do their best work when working under someone else's leadership. But some people feel very comfortable with the scenario of chasing and realizing their dreams.

Tips to Keep Chasing Your Dreams

• Have fear. Terrify yourself. Use it as your ally. Give yourself no option but your dream.
• Sell all your useless crap and get your financial house in order.
• Consider cutting your losses and getting rid of what is eating you financially while you can.
• Plans are made to fail no matter what you do. Get used to it.
• Push past the doubts and insecurities which hold you down by focusing on your dream.
• Be willing to take some risks and work a bit harder and longer to realize your dreams.
• Start an online business, a blog, do some freelance consultant work online, work some odd jobs here and there or anything you might desire.
• Begin to figure it out and adjust as you go.
• Remember Why You Quit.
• Ignore your mind which results in you putting off things that matter the most.
• Immerse yourself in a sea of productivity, to the point where you are so busy that you do not have time to think about failure.
• Remember that you cannot be working 24/7 so enjoy time off. Downtime is necessary.
• Reward yourself for accomplishments or for doing great.

To realize your dreams, you are going to have to quit your job at some point. So, planning will only take you so far. You have to jump and throw yourself in the fire. Chase and realize your dreams by leaving yourself no option but to come out on top. It will be both uneasy and terrifying, but that is life. Anyway, you will get through it!

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Leave-Your-Job-To-Realize-Your-Dreams&id=9766098

Finding Meaning in Everyday Life

Clients come to my office for a number of reasons. For example, when they're feeling depressed, when they're feeling anxious, and when they are experiencing conflict in their relationships, but also when they've become bored with their lives.

For these people, meaning and engagement in life seemed to have disappeared without conscious awareness, and not all of a sudden. Instead, it seemed to filter out slowly and they just woke up one day and experienced an emptiness that wasn't previously there.

The sort of passion, energy, and curiosity they once had about life had slipped away, and in the absence of it, they felt lost, unmotivated, and not at all certain about how to get it back.

Sound like you?

So when I'm faced with clients who live a 'ho hum' existence that offers them little opportunity to stretch their wings so they can discover who they are, and what they're capable of, some of the questions I usually ask is what, in years gone by, were they curious about?

What made them laugh?

What caused them to experience excitement and challenge in their life?

Was there a time when they couldn't wait to get out of bed so they could engage in whatever made them feel truly alive?

And if so, what were they doing at the time that caused them to feel that way?

In other words, what elements existed then that no longer do? What made their view of life change, such that they no longer experience it in the same way?

Part of the problem, I've come to believe, is that people who search for meaning in their lives often bypass the simpler, and more every day, experiences that usually make up the larger meaning of one's life.

In other words, rather than searching for the one and only thing that will help them understand why they were put on this earth, or a hunt down a singular way to make an everlasting and profound difference to the larger society, we sometimes forget to seek out answers to life's meaning that might be discovered down several different avenues closer to home.

For example, learning a new language, or taking up one that had been started at one time and later dropped; becoming a volunteer in an organization that holds personal meaning for whatever reason; adopting a new kitten or puppy; taking a university or college course; beginning a new fitness program that involves others with similar interests; consider changing jobs, or even professions; or reacquainting oneself with friendships that perhaps had slipped away over time.

These are only a few ideas, but it's important to remember that we can find multiple meanings in our lives. I previously mentioned, there isn't just one justification for our existence; there are an unlimited number of ways to experience engagement in one's life, and ways that might not stay the same over time.

In fact, what was meaningful to us at one point in life, may no longer seem as compelling now.

I believe that as we change, and even as we age, our definition of what's meaningful changes with us. So if we lose the 'thread' of what it used to be, we need to rediscover how we might define it today.

And if you're bored to death with your life, don't fret. Know that the boredom you're experiencing is a vital tool for pushing you out of the places where life has become routine and stale, and toward a direction of internal and external revitalization.

On my fridge, I have a reminder of one of the necessary ingredients of my emotional and mental well-being, and it's played a huge part in my life for well over three decades.

The quote simply states that: "[t]he greatest happiness is curiosity", and I know it to be true; the lack of curiosity often leads to a dull, unchallenging, and boring life for many of us, and if it's not addressed, depression can often follow closely behind.

And when we get to that point, it becomes tremendously difficult to break out of the inertness that has slowly swallowed us, but break out of it we must or life will seem increasingly meaningless.

So take some time to discover what you may find curious now - listening to a TED Talk once a day might help - and you gain a curiosity about things you may never have considered interesting before.

The idea is to stretch yourself to look at life from different perspectives - especially if you've lost your own - and in the end, you'll likely trigger a spark of curiosity and interest that results in fostering far greater meaning for your life on a daily basis.

What can you start doing today to get out of your feeling of boredom?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Finding-Meaning-in-Everyday-Life&id=9431590

Find Contentment and Happiness When Your Plans Change

Some people are highly driven people by nature. They have their lives mapped out well in advance of ever executing it. Highly driven people can struggle to find contentment and happiness, because they are always looking for the next thing to happen.

What Happens When Your Whole Life is Mapped Out

With someone that has a plan for their lives, the slightest deviation from it can really cause them to struggle. They are going along and... something changes... life doesn't go according to plan.

This can happen to anyone. For example, career changes are a huge game changer. This is particularly true if your partner or significant other is the one who is changing their career. When it is the other person that makes the major life change, it affects yours in many ways.

Have you ever had that happen to you? Someone comes in and completely wrecks your plans? I know I've had that happen. It can be really difficult to recover when someone else plays a huge part in changing your life.

When The Plan Changes

So often, when the plan changes, you will struggle to get your life back on course. Depending on how severe the change, being happy and content doesn't seem achievable.

Those that have their lives mapped out well in advance hit an even bigger crisis than those that play it by the seat of their pants. They aren't used to being flexible and figuring out how to go with the flow.

I think all of us are guilty of living in the future to a degree. You are always working towards that end goal. Unfortunately, if you live in the future and not the present, you miss out on so much. It actually breeds dissatisfaction in life because you are constantly chasing the something you can never have... and that's tomorrow.

Learning to Live in the Present Helps You Be Content

I'm not saying you should go through life without a plan at all or something to look forward to. However, reaching your life goals should never take place of your current happiness. When you spend so much time working towards the life you want to have... you don't stop to enjoy the life that you do have.

Find Happiness in Your Day to Day Life

Do you ever find yourself going through the "when" scenarios in your mind? For example,

When I make more money, I'll be happy.

When I have my ideal home, I'll feel content.

When my body looks the way I want it to, I'll feel happy.

When... when... when...

Here's what I have learned in life... if I can't be happy in the here and now... I won't be happy when...

Right now, I think you would greatly benefit from just working to feel satisfied with what you have; not what you hope to have.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Find-Contentment-and-Happiness-When-Your-Plans-Change&id=9319370

John Addison: Going Through a life Change? Why You Have to Follow Your Heart

When I took my first job after college, my goals and ambitions were pretty small. Words like executive, and CEO weren’t even in my wheelhouse. I just wanted to make enough money to be able to cover my part of the rent on the small apartment I shared with a couple of buddies and have enough left over for the weekend. A company called Life of Georgia had a position that met those needs. It was a job I hated and wasn’t very good at. Why they kept me on and moved me into a management trainee program is beyond me, but I’m grateful they did because it started a chain of events that changed the course of my life forever.

I worked at Life of Georgia for two years before I decided it was time to make a change. It was partly because I’d already made one huge change—I’d married the bright, talented young woman they hired to replace me when I moved into the management trainee program. I’d also decided to pursue my MBA and needed to have a job closer to mine and Loveanne’s apartment to make getting to Georgia State University after work easier. So I answered an ad for a business analyst at an insurance company called A.L. Williams that was about 10 minutes from our apartment. I was hired and the rest, as they say, was history. That company was later renamed Primerica, the place I spent the rest of my career.

But my story could’ve ended much differently. When I gave my notice at Life of Georgia, I was called into the office of my former boss, who was also a senior vice president of the company. His name was Gerald Padgett and he was not too impressed with my decision to go to work at A.L. Williams. Actually, his exact words were, “John, you’re a bright young man, but you’re making a dumb mistake.” I had a bright future with Life of Georgia, but, according to him, I was throwing it all away with a fly-by-night company that would probably barely last longer than the inspection sticker on my car. Here was this man who was much older than me with a lot more experience essentially telling me I was headed down a path to ruin. That is a lot for a 20-something-year-old newlywed to take in. If I’d called my new employer and told them I’d changed my mind and stayed on with the company I knew would be there for the long haul and would provide me with the income to support my wife and our future babies, no one would’ve blamed me.

Of course, I would’ve never been co-CEO of a major company. I would’ve never helped create one of the most successful IPOs in the history of the financial industry. And I would’ve never had a platform to motivate and inspire people all around the world. Basically, I wouldn’t have become the man I am today and I sure wouldn’t have been happy.

Change is an inevitable part of life. It’s part of growing and (ideally) getting better. And it’s almost never easy—even the really good changes, like marrying the love of your life or moving on to a better job. It’s human nature to wonder if you’re doing the right thing and to second guess yourself to a degree, especially when other people aren’t exactly supportive. If you aren’t equipped with the right tools to handle the situation, this stuff can derail your plans and cause you to miss out on great, life changing opportunities. 

There isn’t a single thing in this whole life that is 100 percent certain other than death and taxes. Neither of those is too pleasant—nor is stagnating in place because you let fear, what-ifs and the negativity of others hold you back. You never know how making a big life change will turn out, but you’ll never find out if you don’t go for it. If you want to be successful and thrive, keep moving forward—even when you feel like you’re moving forward alone. It’s not going to be easy and it’ll definitely be a little scary. Do you think I left my secure job at Life of Georgia and moved on to A.L Williams without being scared out of my mind? I had no idea what I was getting into and it took me a few years to really grasp what it was all about. But it was absolutely worth it, and had I not made the change, I would’ve spent the rest of my life regretting it.

Make a pact to yourself the very minute you decide to make a life change that you will follow your heart and not the words of others just to please them. You will never be able to please all the people in your life and if you pass up opportunities or adventures trying to, you will live a life of regret. I’m not saying to write anyone off or be hateful to them for expressing their concerns. I’m just saying to let them have their say—and then do what you know is best for you.

Life moves on the smallest of decisions. So does destiny. Every change you make in your life, big or small, is creating your destiny. It’s shaping your story. Let your story be about the hero who was willing to make a change, even when it seemed crazy and he didn’t have much support and not about the guy who let fear stop him and lived a life of regret, wondering what his life could’ve been like.

http://www.success.com/blog/john-addison-going-through-a-life-change-why-you-have-to-follow-your-heart

10 Signs It's Time For A Major Life Change

While there are plenty of happy changes we seek in life — new relationships, a makeover, a car — for most of us, change represents uncertainty. With uncertainty comes insecurity and worry.

The truth is that change isn't always a joyful, happy time, but rather a time to act like things are unfolding perfectly. That's what it seems to be for a lot of us: that stuff you have to plaster a smile over and pretend to embrace, even when your heart is drowning.

Most of us want change as much as we are afraid of it. We say things like, I'm so unhappy in my marriage, but I'm afraid of being alone. I'm sick of working in corporate, but I have no idea what else I would do. I can’t stand where I live, but my home is paid off.

When we resist change, it's because we're still holding on to what the universe is asking us to release. Whether it's planned or unplanned change, we are being asked to re-examine our life and consider what direction really matters most.

Change is part of life. And whether you like it or not, it's going to take place with or without your approval. It could be something pint-size (your favorite ice cream joint shut down), or gigantic (death, divorce, or disability). The universe has a natural way of balancing things out.

Based on my own experience and that of hundreds of clients, change is much more enjoyable if you make a change instead of waiting for the universe to do it for you.

Here are 10 signs it is time for a life change.

1. When you romanticize the past to escape the present.

Ask yourself why you're afraid to look at the present, and take steps to create a more positive situation.

2. When you resist unexpected opportunities out of fear of the unknown or what others will say.

Instead of holding onto what isn’t working, be open to letting go so you can make room for what will work.

3. When you feel numb.

When we feel numb to life, it's because we've lost passion and motivation.Ask yourself if you're just going through the motions. Try doing more of what you love each day and watch your inspiration come back.

4. When you’ve lost all passion for your current situation.

Be willing to let go of what no longer serves you. Some situations, places, hobbies and people have expiration dates. As you grow and change, so do your passions.

5. When you start to lie to yourself and others to avoid the truth.

Lying creates inner turmoil, shame and guilt. Instead of festering in these feelings, ask yourself what you're running away from and are afraid to admit.

6. When your actions don’t align with your words.

Actions will always speak louder than words. If you aren't doing what you say, ask why you're over promising.

7. When your relationships feel superficial.

Sometimes breaking up with a best friend or romantic partner is the best thing for your personal well-being.

8. When you feel disenchanted with life.

Staying in situations that no longer serve you always produce a by-product of discomfort. Give yourself permission to follow your heart and step into your future.

9. When you sense you are settling.

Repeat the mantra, “I do not settle. I am worthy of my desires and believe in my well-being.”

10. When your mind drifts to better ways of being.

Trust the nudges coming to you. These inspirational pushes are the catalyst to propel you into a happier and healthy life.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13981/10-signs-its-time-for-a-major-life-change.html