If You Can Dream It You Can Do It!

Here’s another deeper look at the personal development point I make in one of my quote images, and this one’s up for debate…

“If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney.

Walt Disney, a man who took a scribble on a bit of paper and turned it into what is still one of the biggest brands in the world.

Opinion about him varies – some say he was a pioneer that went after anything he set his mind to, with high expectations of himself and anyone around him. Others say he was a dictator that rode roughshod over anyone in his path – it was his way or the highway, and you’d better be grateful.

Now, I’ll admit I don’t know enough about him to form a proper view either way, but that’s not the point of this article – the point is to look at this particular quote, so let’s dive in…

I took that picture while enjoying a sunset down at Herne Bay, on the north Kent coast here I Britain. As I wandered up and down snapping away, I realised that if I moved to certain angle and waited, I’d be able to get the setting sun right behind the helter skelter.

So, that’s what I did.
I dreamt it, so I did it.

End of article.

Hang on, hang on, not end of article!
That’s just a simple illustration of the point, and with the fairground rides on the pier, it felt like the kind of picture that needed a Disney quote!

A lot of people think that goal achievement, or self improvement, or personal development are all a load of old nonsense, in fact just the kind of fluff that should stay in Disney films, as they have no place in the real world.

That’s because they’ve either tried to do something and it hasn’t worked, or they’ve never even tried, and have simply watched others move their lives forward with a resigned ‘oh it’s ok for them.’

You won’t be surprised to hear that this isn’t the kind of view I would accept – not from myself, and not from others either, which is why I try to correct it when I come across it.

In order to change that view, two things are needed. Firstly, an understanding of why someone would take that view, and secondly an alternative that can be offered.

I’ve already touched on the ‘why’ – over and over it boils down to fear. Fear of failure, either from remembering a previous ‘failure’, or from being too afraid to ever start on that road in the first place.

As for the alternative? Oh yes, I can offer one of those..!

The alternative, since we’re boiling things down, can be boiled down to expectation combined with implementation.

When it comes to expectation, you have to know what you are expecting to achieve – that’s where the dream comes in. If you can’t dream it, or you can’t define ‘it’, then the chances of it coming to pass get as vague as your definition!

Once you get specific, you then need to believe it – believe that it’s possible, and the believe that you’re worthy of the goal.

Then it comes down to implementation – working out what the steps are you need to take, and then getting on and taking them, asking for help if you need to, and accepting the hurdles and difficulties that might come your way.

Sounds all well and good, right?

Well, it is all well and good, but right at the beginning I did say that Disney’s quote could be up for debate, and here’s why…

"Gordon Bryan", "Herne Bay"

The quote might be taken as saying that anything is achievable simply by dreaming it.

No.

That’s not the case, and I’m not saying it is. Disney wasn’t saying that either. It doesn’t always happen like that in his films, and it certainly doesn’t happen like that in real life!

Some things are not possible. Not possible for me, not possible for you.
For example, my body make up is not suitable for record breaking marathon times, nor for space travel. So I can dream them all I want, but it won’t happen.

Yes, I can complete a marathon (which I did, in 2008), but it won’t be a world record.
Yes, I could buy a seat on a space mission, but I won’t be taken on as an ‘official’ astronaut.

It’s important that we know the difference.

It might be that we need to find out in order to know whether our dream is possible or not, and that’s something I certainly would say – don’t let your assumptions hold you back, nor the assumptions of others either!

If you assume that your dream is possible, and set out to do something about it, then there are some amazing adventures out there for you. Walt even makes the key point himself in the quote, when he says you can do it. It needs action, and that’s action by you – the dream won’t happen just because you’ve dream it, you have to take care of the do bit!

I enjoy taking the sunset photos, and I’m going to enjoy taking more of them. It’s not any kind of earth shattering dream, but once I’ve decided that I’m doing it I check the weather, work out where to go, work out how to get there, and then take action.

Look to your own dreams. Have you been scared of them? Have you dismissed them as unattainable?

If so, it’s time to check out the Walt Disney book of achievement – not the films, but the man himself. Get those sleeves rolled up, and get on with turning those dreams into reality!

Ok, I’d love to hear what you think – do leave a comment!

‘Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you want to start getting on with the ‘doing’, then do grab my free 8 step goal achievement formula!



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