Dreams vs. Wishes

“Listen to your dreams. They are the whispers of your heart telling you all you’ll ever need to be happy.” - Belva Davis

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If dreams are the "whispers of your heart telling you all that you'll ever need to be happy", then what are

wishes? Perhaps they are the noisy declarations of our minds telling us what we "think" will make us happy. How are we to differentiate the two? I wonder if I have dreams or simply wish lists?

Discerning our dreams and God's plan for our lives requires an inner stillness and listening for what is in the present. Wishes are the "what ifs" and "if onlys" of the past and future. We make wish lists in the midst of multitasking, chaos, and the incessant noise of our fast paced everyday lives. Dreaming our dreams requires a conscious effort to relax, observe rather than become our thoughts, listen for the voice from within, and open to possibility without censure.

All well and good, but why is this on my mind today? This week has been a busy week (for me) of reconnecting, climbing out of my self imposed, cold weather avoiding, isolation, back into the world of action and relationships. Every conversation I've had this week has touched on the importance of friendships, relationships, interaction, relaxation, and reflection. I'm listening, everyone! I realize that each of these exchanges have delivered a much needed message. I believe we all need reminders from time to time about what is important and how to listen for our dreams.

The missing component for me recently has been my inability to fully relax. My personality is fairly laid back, flexible, and easy going most of the time, however, I have noticed a definite change over the past several months. As I reflect on this time, I recognize that many of the activities that gave my life structure and a sense of purpose have changed. Now, more that ever, I need to create my own opportunities to listen for the desires of my heart, spoken by a soft voice from within.

The most prominent obstacle on this new journey is myself. Nothing new. Just that "being human" thing that gets in the way so often! This week has been a good one. I know that I have a choice to make. Do I want to keep making wishes or do I want to capture the "what is" of each day? Perhaps, I will begin with purposeful inclusion of silent meditation and listening prayers in place of only thinking and speaking.

Stillness is what I have been avoiding. When I relax, listen, and observe, I have to face straight on who I am at this very moment. Wishes, noise, and denial cannot change the reality of this point in time. I am giving myself permission to relax, reflect, respond, and take the time to identify shattered dreams and create the space to replace them with new ones. Are you listening Carla?

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Happiness

FREE to sing, laugh, dance... create!