Most all of us have dreams, ambitions, goals or aspirations… at least of some kind. Things we want to do or become.
But sometimes life can get in the way, can’t it?
We may have intentions but the monotony of the day-to-day, the responsibilities and the busyness can leave us merely trying to survive… much less giving us any margin to thrive. 
Days turn into weeks and weeks turn into years and if we aren’t careful we can find ourselves living but not being truly alive.
Sound familiar?
The good news though is that it doesn’t have to be this way. We can do anything, if we make the choice to do so. 
In my work with a number of highly successful leaders, best-selling authors and thought leaders I have recognized multiple traits that set them apart from the crowd. Things they do to live their lives on purpose and in a direction that makes them or their accomplishments admirable to others.
What I have found is that it’s not necessarily that they are smarter or better looking or more privileged… it has more to do with their drive and their perspective of how they see the world.
While the traits are many, here are 3 that we all can use to pursue our dreams and live our lives on purpose… 
1. Believe – If you have a dream or an idea to pursue, believe in it and believe that you are capable of achieving it (no matter what anyone else tells you). It’s very possible that your idea is part of your purpose, the unique calling that God has placed on your life. If you don’t go after it then you’re not living the life that you were intended to live and you will feel out of balance as a result. If God gave you the idea then he will equip you to achieve it. It doesn’t mean that it will be easy or that you won’t encounter resistance along the way, after all no dream worth living was ever accomplished without hard work, persistence and determination. The resistance is part of the journey and what helps us to grow. Success in whatever it is you want to achieve may not come easy but it won’t come at all if you don’t believe it is possible.
2. Stop Waiting for Perfection – Perfection is a myth and you will never achieve it. You’re kidding yourself if you are waiting for the perfect time, the perfect place or the perfect sign. Waiting on perfection is just an excuse to procrastinate and bow down to the fear that tries to limit us. Almost every successful person I know is a doer. Yes, they think things through but they don’t over think it to the point of inaction. At some point you must do or you’ll just keep wishing you did.
3. Start Today with Tomorrow in Mind – If you want to achieve something big, recognize that it’s a marathon and not a sprint. There are very few real overnight successes. Most of what we see is the result of years of work. Start today and keep the end in mind. Like a brilliant sculpture is created by chipping away piece by piece, you too must do the same. Don’t get discouraged in the beginning, just keep chipping away. When you work with the end in mind, you are being intentional about your outcome. Being intentional is what keeps you on track towards the goal you wish to achieve. 
Found this post via Daniel Decker (he’s fantastic!) and it was dead on what I needed to remember. Last week, I shared my post about choosing to live life extraordinarily and explained:
I think a lot of times when we set goals and dreams, we often think about the future. This is important, but not as important about enjoying and embracing the moment and day you are in. Are you strategizing and planning to someday reach that point in life where you feel peace and joy, or do you actively do things and take steps every day that bring you peace and joy right here and right now?
>>>Rather than treat life like a to-do list, treat life like a gift. I know, I know….that sounds SUPER cheesy. But it’s true – you absolutely positively have NO idea what could happen tomorrow. Rather than live life through completing your daily obligations and tasks, live life by passionately enjoying what you are doing and take small steps toward your dreams.
Don’t let life just happen to you. Don’t miss out on the little things. Or the big things – like the relationships you have and the ways you share your gifts and abilities with the world. One of my favorite quotes that I try to always remember is “The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” May today be the day you live the full and abundant and absolutely radiant life! xo
Polish my crown 