Wondering how to be more realistic when it comes to your dreams? We can help with that! Here are three main areas that it is super important to be realistic about when chasing your dream.
It may seem counterintuitive to put the words “dream” and “realistic” in the same sentence, but the truth of the matter is, we can’t adequately build our dreams without a healthy dose of reality. I totally agree with KD Hanes who says: “Dreams become reality through faith and perseverance.” However, we have to be realistic in which dreams we can accomplish.
I know you’ve heard quotes like “If you can believe it, you can achieve it,” but let’s not take a quote like that out of context. I mean, I can “believe” that I’ll grow to be six feet tall, but the likelihood of my five-foot, two-inch self achieving that dream is zero! I can also believe that I will be the next Mary Lou Retton, but trust me, that’s not happening either.
Here’s another quote that gets overplayed in Christian circles. It comes from the writings of Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 (NRSV): “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Yep, Christians throw that around like we can achieve anything we set our minds to by simply proclaiming that verse. But that’s not what Paul was asserting.
In Philippians 4, Paul was expressing to the Philippian church his appreciation for a gift they had sent him while incarcerated. If you read the passages above and below verse 13, you come to understand that Paul was simply stating that he had learned to be content whether he possessed a little or a lot of life’s necessities, such as food, clothing, and shelter. In other words, he had learned to be content in various circumstances because of Christ’s strength within him.
Commentary on Philippians tells us: “In all the situations of his life—in poverty and in prosperity, when well fed and when hungry, Paul can be content. He has the power to endure all these extreme situations, all these ups and downs, without anxiety, with the peace of God guarding his heart and mind in Christ Jesus (4:6–7).”[1]
See the difference?
So, let’s get back to your dream and explore what should a world changer be realistic about when it comes to chasing their dream?
Your real strengths. When we look at your specific strengths, we are looking at what gifting God has given you specifically to work with. All of us have certain talents and skill sets that we excel in, and we all have areas of weakness. Our task is to be brutally honest about these two areas. It is so important that we never underestimate our strengths and never overestimate our weaknesses.
Let’s look at Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, his understudy, in 1 Timothy 4:13-15 (NRSV):
Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
Notice the phrasing, “do not neglect the gift that is in you.” Paul is clearly signaling to Timothy to use his strengths in conveying the word of God. Notice Paul doesn’t instruct Timothy to heal the sick or cast out demons. No, Timothy was called to preach, teach, and lead, this was his gifting in ministry.
Had Timothy attempted to do other things, like speak in tongues or constantly heal others, and stepped outside of his strengths, his ministry to the Ephesians may not have been as effective.
Likewise, we need to know our real strengths so that we can make our dream a reality.
Your real habits. Now in order to gain strength in a certain area, we need to be mindful of our habits. Our daily habits are the foundational blocks of our strengths.
Don’t forget, Paul told Timothy: “Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 NRSV). In other words, Timothy, make the things we are discussing a daily habit.
Remember the consistent daily habit that Jesus used to refresh and strengthen Himself? It wasn’t sleep. It wasn’t eating breakfast every day. It was prayer! In scripture we constantly see Jesus stealing away to pray (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). It was a real daily habit for Him, not just something He did on occasion. To accomplish His dream of bringing us all back into right relationship with God the Father, He needed to be with His Father daily. Prayer was Jesus’ superpower (if you will).
What do you do on a daily basis that is setting the foundation for achieving your dream?
Let me ask you a question. Do you know exactly where your time goes every day? Let me encourage you to evaluate where your time is spent. Hiding underneath the timelapse that is our life is our real daily habits. In order to achieve our dreams, some of them may need to change or be eliminated. Some of them may need to be re-prioritized and in some cases, new habits may need to be developed.
One of the best ways I have found to identify my daily habits is to track what I do every day for a week. Then I analyze where my time is spent and adjust accordingly so that my habits are lining up with my desire to accomplish my dream.
I’d love to take credit for this method, but I can’t. This time management method is the brainchild of Laura Vanderkam. I highly recommend her book, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. Not only will you figure out where you are wasting time, but you’ll be able to determine how to prioritize your time so you stick to those necessary habits that will help your dream become a reality.
Time management plus strong daily habits will equal success in bringing your dream to life.
Your real potential. Potential is described in the Cambridge Dictionary as “someone’s or something’s ability to develop, achieve, or succeed.” I’m a firm believer that you have a God-given potential. Yes, you! Your dream is a hint at what God knows your full potential to be, you just don’t know it yet.
However, as we are starting out, we need to be realistic about what our true starting point is. When we hold on to unrealistic notions about where we truly are in the process of growing, dream building can be incredibly frustrating because nothing seems to go as planned. The truth is we are simply getting ahead of ourselves.
Let me say for the record, there is absolutely no shame in starting from a place that makes us feel like a total newbie. I’ve been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. We all have to start somewhere. In the beginning, every world changer wishes to have more skill and talent than they start with. Every single one of them! The key to their success (and yours) is their willingness to do any and everything needed to improve their current ability and thus improve their potential.
Philip Arnold once said: “Your inner potential cannot develop without your willingness and conscious participation.”
The truth of the matter is that no one great ever started at the top. I mean think about it. Moses started out as a murderer and a runaway. David started out as a shepherd. Esther started out as part of a harem. Rahab started out as a prostitute. Mary Magdalene started out being possessed by seven demons. Peter started out denying Jesus three times. God redeemed them all and they went on to reach their full potential.
Even Jesus came to us as a baby! Talk about starting from the beginning. Yet through His obedience to God, He not only reached His potential, He reached the potential that only God could have entrusted Him with.
Take heart. You have potential, but your greatest potential is yet to be seen!
“Potential is a priceless treasure, like gold. All of us have gold hidden within, but we have to dig to get it out.” Joyce Meyer
Don’t be scared to just get real about where your current potential lies. Once you know your starting point, you’re ready to effectively build on it.
OK world changer, I know this might have come off as a “tough love” talk, but know I had your best interest in mind. I believe in you and I’m cheering you on as you evaluate your real strengths, habits, and potential. Once you lay a realistic foundation, you’re all set to grow you and your dream.
[1] Hansen, G. W. (2009). The Letter to the Philippians (p. 314). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
If you found this post helpful, there’s more where that came from friend. You’re a part of an 11-part series based on John Maxwell’s book, Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions to Help You See It and Seize It. We’d love to hear your takeaways in the comments. And we’d really love it if you shared this post with your friends.
You can find all eleven posts under the Test Your Dream category above.
As a certified coach, speaker, and trainer with the John Maxwell Team, I can’t wait to share with you not only the best John Maxwell materials but my lived experience as a faith-based entrepreneur! Helping you chase God-sized dreams is what I do best! Feel free to ask me about the Entrepreneur DREAM Course and how you can create your own She Steps Forward “World Changer” Action Plan.
Elaine Lankford
Elaine Lankford is a faith-based life and leadership coach. She is the founder and executive director of She Steps Forward Ministries LLC, a nondenominational, parachurch ministry focused on empowering everyday women to chase God-sized dreams, and She Steps Forward International, a faith-based non-profit that works within the United States and Africa to equip everyday women to fulfill their God-given destinies. She is passionate about assisting other faith-based entrepreneurs to follow through on their God-sized dreams. Her coaching packages include uniquely designed roadmaps complete with practical action steps that help guide each entrepreneur through the process of making their calling come to life. Her mission is to raise up a generation of diverse women who are excited to both lead and mentor other women to reach their full potential in Christ.
Elaine is also an author and international speaker. She self-published her first book, Love Echoed Back, in August 2014. Prior to launching her ministry and non-profit, Elaine was in the nursing profession for over sixteen years. In the local church community, Elaine has served as a women’s small group leader and an intercessional prayer partner. She has considerable experience in organizing and leading missions teams out of country. Elaine is currently working on a Master of Arts in Theology Degree at Jakes Divinity School. She is a Virginia native, wife to Darrell, and mother to Nicholas.
All scripture taken from:
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.