The Purpose of Your/A Dream

The Purpose of A [Your] Dream

 Why have a Dream? What real value do they hold? For the individual? For the greater good? Do some people’s dreams matter more than others? And who determines how, and/or why? I’m not talking about night travels or vague wishes, rather the substance of something that will pave your destiny and shape your being. I believe dreams, your dreams too, are designed to serve the highest purposes for the greater good-apart from any fun and/or pleasure or fulfilment they give the dreamer.

Your Dream/Vision is Your Life Map

 I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nothing is more tragic in my mind than a person going to their grave with their song unsung and their vision still in their belly. I’d really like to play a part in changing how many people do this. Not by controlling anyone, or telling them what to do-as if you could force anyone to fulfil their own dreams! No, I’d like to do it by presenting a few different ways to view one’s dreams. A dream, personal vision, life goal, destiny, calling-whatever name you wish to give it, is not merely the opportunity to pursue a hobby-although, it may start like that. A dream is the blueprint of your life, unfolding and blossoming progressively , as you move forward in it. It is your guide, your personal map and it is never fully revealed for it always expanding-if you run with it. If it is never acted upon beyond the vague notion of “oh, I always wanted to...”, then the vision of it may never bloom either. The dreamer may never awaken to its magic. Unless the seed is sown, it can become no more than it is, but the instant it is given any kind of climate to grow, life springs forth! And it truly does not matter how late in life. It’s never SO late that your dreams are forfeit.

  God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.  Rom 11:29

 He never takes them back. They are for you and you alone. Non-transferable.  You can’t live them out through your kids either! [caption id="attachment_1648" align="alignright" width="300"]
Come out of your hole and into the light with your dreams. (Click to enlarge)

 The Seminal Stages

One of the reasons that so many put their dreams off is because they often appear, in the early days, as vain exploits of indulgent, self pleasure. (Why this was ever seen as a ‘bad thing’ is a big part of the problem!) Often, there’s no logic, rhyme or reason other than the fact that you just love doing it!!

The first, most commonly made mistake, is to think it needs to do or be or accomplish any more than this. First step of the Master’s blueprint is to simply ‘find your bliss’! For some reason, when we are young, this is ok. We’re allowed to love doing something and we are encouraged to do it more and more because it is appropriately celebrated that some passion and enthusiasm has been discovered.

 Dream Puberty
This is where many a dream is dashed against the rocks of ridicule and ill-placed criticism, or crushed beneath pressure of sneering peers, disapproving parents and poor self esteem. As we grow, other things are deemed more important than doing what makes us happy. Parents say we must do homework first, or chores. Responsibility (that which we must do whether we like it or not) comes before that which we enjoy and are inexplicably drawn to.

Nothing wrong with carrying some ownership for the home...but it should be presented as a positive addition, not a mandatory enslavement at the cost of what is dear. The two never needed to be pitted as enemies to each other. This is not about spoiling a child, but about valuing the destiny within each one.

 Train up a child in the way he should go [or ‘in his own bent’], 
and when he is old he will not depart from it. Pr 22:6

Why? Why did the values suddenly change? Why did the game rules get altered? Do teachers not know? Do parents not understand? That when encouraged to pursue this and other passions, a child will eventually face every fear and every inner demon, every discipline and every character trait necessary to be able to continue to grow in it? And do so willingly, for the love of the it instead of through force and the fear of falling short.

Passion makes Perfect

They will work harder, longer and with greater commitment if allowed to work at what they love.  They will become experts who love what they do and do it in their own unique way. Not everyone who loves to sing will have a public stage of 1000s, but they may have a small stage of 10 disabled little children who flourish through that gift. If you truly love it, the right place to give that gift will present. It’s in you for a reason and even if you don’t know what that is yet honour it with nurturing and time and effort and you will!

No one works harder than the passionate person. You will never work as hard or as happily, or sleep as well in a tepid life. Find the fire in your belly again! Banish the old ghosts that said you were too weak to live your dreams. You can! Not only that, all of creation awaits with bated breath for you to do it!

All creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  Rom 8:19

You cannot tell me that the universe, on every level, doesn’t exult in each life that is taken back to be lived in Freedom! God rejoices! I feel the excitement in a decision made by a person to follow their blueprint.

Not Negotiable

The greatest tragedy of human life is the notion that one's dreams must be relegated to retirement and some dabbling, after one has served and paid their dues! Poppycock!!  This has to take the cake as one of the grandest lines of BS we've ever been spun! People feel so guilty about being happy that it completely robs them of their most effective means to be a gift to the world.

In spite of all those who think otherwise, the power of an aligned life goal, or dream, vision, calling, ministry, fate or destiny is given to YOU, so that you will rise and become all you can be.  When you commit to your dream, it will give you and/or hone these qualities:

• Clarity of Intention
• Meaning-a reason to be ( even if it is just the joy of being )
• Well being
• Skill Development
• Mastery/ Discipline
• Character/Values
• Fulfilment
• Personal Growth/ Expansion

And as it grows and takes hold of your heart and becomes your magnetic north, it will bring to humanity:

• Inspiration
• Evolution
• Enlightenment
• Greater Joy
• Appreciation

I believe every dream, whether great or small, does these things. You can be part of something far greater than yourself by being “selfish” and honouring the gift of the dream that has been placed inside of you. Every person has that glorious being inside them.

Start today by doing one thing each day to show your worthiness of your dream. Accept the high and holy calling to be all that you imagine and more.

 Dare to DREAM your IMPOSSIBLE DREAM!!
All of creation, seen and unseen, God, the angels and me...we’re all cheering you on!

 

 

"In Training" as the New Rich-Nouveau Riche

You know, I would say that I travelled a pretty amazing journey.

From the time I was 3 years old ( about 46 and 1/2 years ago), I have undergone signifcant change. By "significant change", I mean in those areas that are considered to be the most traumatic...loss or separation of immediate family members (6 of the 8-having only my younger sibling with me all through to 18), geographical moves ( 25 places in totally different parts of Sydney by the age of 25). I had one 7 year stretch till I turned 32, then, once again, interstate and added another 12 addresses and a four month bout of  "no permanent address"-yes, officially homeless. But this is not a sad story-by no means!

Aside from moving a lot, obviously I met a lot of different people too-from all manner of backgrounds. A much as I longed for emotional stability and anchors, I don't think I ever realised, until now, just how much I loved the colour and diversity of this life path. I was a 'shapeshifter'. I could fit anywhere and connect. I could adapt to multiple environments and moved between them easily. I became an expert at transition and observed people from all sides as they viewed the "others" with whom I felt an equal connection on some level.

I experienced a great deal of contrast early in life that help me to sharply clarify dreams for desired alternatives. I also had some fantastic opportunities to experience fun and unique opportunities. This has never ceased but I can see that my young life could be greatly responsible for my appetite to live life to the full and on my own terms. And like never before, I am viewing every single aspect of my personal history as a true gift-even the deepest of sorrows and shames-because they all so enlarged my capacity to profoundly imagine the life I desire and created in my a refusal to accept less.

Yep, that's me. Left front row. The only one in a winter uniform, hair absolutely everywhere and NO front teeth! I had three brothers, so a game of "Chasings" before school was always likely! And the girl next to me ( Danielle) is wearing BALLET slippers and no uniform.

On a wonderfully positive note, one such period was when I was attending North Curl Curl Primary School. Although a very difficult time for my family, I had the wonderful experience of being recognised for my singing by anyone and everyone! Every lunch time and recess, I was asked to sing ( as a little 8 yr, with no front teeth), taking requests and including hits of the day like Leaving On a Jet Plane and Bridge Over Troubled Water. My young heart, although overjoyed at the pleasure I brought people was already capable of expressing the sentiments of these songs through my voice and I got an incredible taste of what it was to take people on an emotional journey with me.

Any one who knows me, whether from then, in between, or now, knows this is still the case. It set the tone of one of my greatest life desires: to give my music to those who could hear it and be somehow moved by it for their benefit.

A little later on,  and one brother less, we moved again and I attended Avalon Primary School. This school amazed me from the outset! It was HUGE to my 9 and1/2 yr old eyes. As big as any high school I'd ever seen, double storeys and all!  I spent half of 4th, and through 5th and 6th grade here and I "blame" these years for some of seemingly insatiable appetites for life.

I was already writing and drawing but I discovered Enid Blyton! Other worlds around the globe. (I need my own island!) I was already singing and started to teach myself music using a recorder and book, then the school started a "school band" ( 110 piece!!!) and I started clarinet. For the sweetest 6 months of my young life, I had a piano and began to teach myself ( but was denied it in the next move :-( Another reason why I dislike practicality over dreams!).

In 5th class, my classroom was lined in fish tanks! End to end tanks. We went to the rock pools and caught fish, we went on TV doing it ( I fell in, cut my foot open, had to get a tetanus shot and they screened it! ) and we lived amazingly rich lives for primary schoolers! I also joined an external Christian drama group, started acting and singing on a different stage, met more amazing people...some that became significant along my path and some who are once again part of my life ( Thanks Facebook!)

But 6th class really stuffed me as far as living the normal 9-5 and walking the common road-if I wasn't already!

In Yr 6, my class were given a house for a classroom! yes, a  HOUSE! It was at the back of the school property and we loved it! We were not taught in the usual way but given a quota of work to get done. Once completed, we were free to cook in the kitchen, play on the trampoline, read in our own personal library, do creative projects, learn dances, make plays, be active outside. We even had a dog! We could do the work anywhere and  anyhow we wanted.

Now, if you had gone to school like this, how would you be today?? Paul A Bryant, if you're out there...thanks for being the amazing teacher ( out of Newcastle Uni) who implemented this! I can still picture him SO clearly!

I loved school and had always excelled. It was "my space". It had become my emotional anchor. But, in this set up, I flourished. I had everything done and record time and was totally free to play with everything else my heart desired.

Now if my life to that point hadn't set me up and sealed me for the life of the New Rich, as Timothy Ferriss calls it, grade 6 sure did! I was a "gonner".  Coming from a long line of artists, musicians, actors, writers and creative dreamers kind of helped too. And my five children look destined to have the same imprint. :-)

So...you may not have had my colourful, intense and sometimes extreme existence but I guarantee you-whether it's a sedentary life of solitude or an adventurous life exploring global communities (or that and everything in between), your life has its own rhythm, rhyme and wonder. Find the best beat for your step. Let the experiences of life reveal aspects of what you love and yearn for, whether by their absence or their presence ans start becoming intentional about how you want your  life to look.

It's the funniest thing! Now that all my children are grown and living their lives, I have finally come to a place of personal confidence and internal security that I no longer need brick and mortar anchors. In fact, right now, it's the last thing I want. All I see ahead in the immediate future for me is travel-diversity, change, community, arts.

Taking care of that thing called "Making Money" as my weekly quota of work  (on my terms) and living the rest of my time FREE! Thank God for the 4 Hour Work Week-Nouveau Riche

The Art of Resistance and Allowing

Hi All!

I know I've not been here for a while but I've been busy in a lot of other places. ( such as my site http://lisashahescape.com and Facebook...and you tube...and Blog Talk...yada yada

However, I thought I'd like to start adding some of my art/writing/music work here.
So here is one that I'm going to be using as inspiration for further works which hopefully will be compiled into an interactive art coffee table book. Cool idea huh?

The 'clash' of opposing forces all seem to work with

one intent in the Hands of the Great Creator

to bring forth masterpieces that share no rival.

"The Art of Resistance and Allowing"

“The Art of Allowing Resistance” I love the movement, even in the static elements, as well as the wonderful contrasts in the textures, substances, line,design and form. Never the same, it’s the ever changing display in the dance of creating art, at the liminal point where water and land meet. Always perfect to my eyes.

I think that’s how we look as spirits in the universe, meeting flesh. Encountering contrast and conflict, learning how to flow in who we are and making beautiful art of it all in the process. As stunning as any fireworks could be!

Lisa In Oz

P.S. I f anyone chooses to save and use my artwork, please post a link to where you found it and give credit to the artist. This would be greatly appreciated. Thanks