How to re-ignite dreams and aspirations (part two)

Now that we know some of the reasons for these disappeared dreams and aspirations of ours, let’s see if we can revive them and what it will take to do it successfully. I’m told that it’s never too late to reignite our passions and pursue new dreams! I know many seniors around my age that are proving that vitality and curiosity are not constrained by age. 

I’ve already been on that road before when I returned to meditating in 2020 and started to learn Spanish one year ago now, so I know lots of things can be activated no matter how old we are! The first move is to refresh our view by recognizing that dreams don't have to be huge or impressive. They can be about learning, personal growth, contributing to our community, enjoying simple pleasures, or deepening relationships. 

That’s right, just quality dreams and aspirations! One way to get started is by breaking down any seemingly large aspirations into tiny, manageable steps. to build momentum and confidence (what I call the “salami technique”.) Then, I do my best to focus on "Meaning" and "Purpose". It could be volunteering, sharing my wisdom, creating a product, an idea, or piece of art or something else, and it could also be enjoying the beauty around me. 

It might also be the moment to reconnect with old passions or hobbies we used to like earlier on. For instance, what did we love to do when we were younger that we had to let go of due to our job or other responsibilities? Could we rekindle these interests? We can also let our curiosity guide us based on what topics, subjects, or activities that naturally pique our interest now? By following these, we might discover some new passions. 

Executing on our dreams will inevitably lead us to learn new skills, like researching, reading or taking a class in anything that interests us. It could be a new language (like what I’m doing right now with Spanish), painting, woodworking, playing an instrument, learning more about my computer or my smart phone, photo, video, cooking, gardening, etc. 

What attracts us involves some regular physical activity like walking, exercise or a new sport, so much the better. It’s just what our doctors ordered us to do! If we can unearth just one exciting dream, we might be on our way to big changes in our lives. 

Our golden years can be a great opportunity to pursue passions that we have forgotten, put on hold, and are now free for us to rediscover. It's about embracing a new chapter of growth and discovery. 

Tomorrow, we’ll see our we can set up a plan of action...