Give Yourself Permission to Dream Big

There are many reasons we don’t allow ourselves to dream big, to reach beyond reality.
Maybe you that if you declare yourself to the world, people will think you are stupid, delusional, or crazy.

It’s too scary. I want it so much it will hurt if I don’t get it.

The other day I retweeted this:

Morolake Akinosun represents the US.  She declared her dream to the world and 5 years later she made good on her promise.

That’s great you say, Athlete Fluff and motivation for a time.

Maybe you don’t think you could reach your dreams because:
She has talent–I’m ordinary. (see my blog on hard work and talent).
You think that people saw her talent and supported her, they didn’t laugh at her.

Guess what?
This athlete made her dreams come true by working hard.  No magic.  Very hard work.

It wasn’t always easy, and no one knows the work that I put in the five years in between the two tweets, I put in a lot, a lot, a lot of hard work over the course of the five years, and I went after my dream.–Morolake Akinosun

The photo itself was inspirational, but the comment section held a huge gift to athletes who want to build a strong mental game.

The very first comment was from a man who posted:

In 2018 I will win the Tour De France and marry a girl  named Sara.  Now follow me and my dreams.

His post received 1,103 likes and many many supportive comments.
Keep in mind, this was a post on the NBC Facebook page

Screen Shot 2016-08-06 at 7.14.24 PMPeople, strangers, were inspired by his declaration and took the time to post words of encouragement to him.

They didn’t know what kind of training he has done, what kind of talent he has, or even if he owns a bicycle.

That didn’t matter.  They rallied around him with encouragement.  People wanted him to check back with them in 2018. They wanted him to update them.

If you have been afraid to declare your dream to others.  I hope you change your mind.  Instead of laughing at you, people will rally to support you.  Remember that the Champion mindset comes before you are ever acknowledged by the world as a Champion.

Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now that you have the permission to dream big, what will it be!

Mental skills training can make a difference because it can help you access what is already there during competition and practice. Start here; download “Confidence Myth Busters,” a complimentary eBook and make a change.