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Is Your Dream Waiting for You to Come True?   

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Have you ever been called to do something for yourself or go in a direction that you knew would gain disapproval from others? Most of us have at some time or another. Recently, I fulfilled a dream I’ve had for quite a while; I got a tattoo. If my beloved, deceased mother could see it I am sure she would not give her nod of approval; it was her long-held opinion that only Hell’s Angels and crusty old sailors, of which I am neither, had tattoos. One of my old friends rolled his eyes, wondering if I had gone bonkers, trying to look “hip” at seventy-one years of age. I assured him that wasn’t the case and that while I loved him, I didn’t do it for his or anyone else’s approval or disapproval. I explained that I wasn’t a latent rebel trying to make a statement to the world; I did it for myself. Period.

What I know is that getting a tattoo is all about commitment; once you start there is no turning back; it becomes part of who you are.

Because I believe I know who I am I wasn’t looking for another label to define me; I didn’t want a tattoo to have a tattoo. In other words, inscribing “Born to be wild,” or having a skull and crossbones, or even my wife’s name tattooed on my arm didn’t call to me. I wanted my tattoo to be symbolic for me, as a mindfulness tool, to serve as a reminder of who I came here to be and what was mine to do. If I was going to be looking at it every day for the rest of my life, I wanted it to mean something to me–even if no one else saw it or liked it.

One day, while looking at my business logo, I was reminded of why I chose a compass to go with my vision statement of “Guiding People to Purpose.” With that remembrance, in a heartbeat, I knew what my tattoo would be. I reasoned, with a compass on my arm and the North Star pointing upward, toward my heart, my innate guidance system had a built-in visual display. In those moments when I may be feeling uncertain, or in need of a reminder of what is important, with one glance at my arm I will always know where to look first for guidance and direction; not to the world or the people in it, but within.

The takeaway: It’s important to listen to what the people who matter in your life have to say, but at the end of the day no one knows better than you what dreams and aspirations lie silently in your heart waiting for you to come true. You don’t necessarily have to get a tattoo on your arm to know that, you just need to, as Thoreau infers, be willing to go confidently in the direction of your dreams when your heart calls and live the life YOU have imagined even when others may think you have gone a bit bonkers, and they will, and that’s okay.

Dennis Merritt Jones
Dennis Merritt Joneshttps://dennismerrittjones.com/
Throughout his lifetime, author, speaker, and mentor, Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones has been on a quest to inspire and lift people to a higher expression of life. His vision is to guide people to their purpose, knowing that when one fully awakens to who they are and why they are on the planet, they share their gift to humankind and create an enriching life for themselves and the world around them. Dennis is the award-winning author of six books—three of which are recipients of a Nautilus Gold or Silver award—and hundreds of articles and blogs. He has written and released the following books: The Art of Abundance - Ten Rules for a Prosperous Life; The Art of Being - 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life; The Art of Uncertainty - How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It; Your ReDefining Moments - Becoming Who You Were Born to Be; Encouraging Words - Proof That Who You Are Matters, and; How to Speak Science of Mind. Dennis believes we each have the capacity and, ultimately, the responsibility to contribute something positive to this world, leaving it a better place than it was when we arrived. Reflected in his writings and presentations, his teachings promote a contemporary life-affirming, spiritually logical, and positive outlook on life. As a keynote speaker, Dennis is equally comfortable addressing an audience seeking spiritual inspiration or those seeking a purely secular motivational message. He uses his understanding of universal principles to draw upon wisdom from both eastern and western philosophies. As a mentor, Dennis works with individuals and non-profits to assist them in clarifying their vision and mission. He believes that there is a deeper consciousness of unity, cooperation, and reverence rising in humankind where the value of all life, regardless of ethnicity, geography, culture, or sexual orientation, is sacred. He believes this consciousness of unity, cooperation, and reverence for life and the planet will be one of the most significant influences upon society as we approach the challenges of 21st-century living.

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