3 Ways to Make Life What You Say It Is

Believe it or not, you’re not living the life you want to live.

Neither am I.

As a child, I dreamt of being a teacher. Now, I dream of living semi-nomadically, visiting various cities for months at a time. I’m not living either of those dreams.

As a child, you may have dreamt of being an astronaut, doctor, or something else that seemed fun. Now, you may dream of breaking free of a job you hate, building your own idea into an astronomic success, or something else that’s awesome.

Are you living any of those dreams?

Luckily, our dreams change as we grow, as time passes, as life runs its course. Luckily, we now have all the tools we need at our fingertips. Luckily, achieving our dreams is finally up to us.

We have a chance to live our dreams right now.

In my own quest, I’ve discovered a few steps I find absolutely necessary to making it happen. In hopes that they’ll help in some way, allow me to share them with you:

1. Believe You Deserve It

At the start of this year, I took part in a conference in Managua. When I arrived, I spotted a friend sitting with a group of people I’d never met.

When I approached them, my friend introduced me to the small group, saying wonderful things about me — and I absolutely hated it.

He used the word “expert,” leader” and maybe even “awesome” to describe me. With every glowing word that came out of his mouth, I cringed and swatted his compliments away with a vengeance.

“Don’t listen to a word he says!” I interjected, laughing nervously. “I wish I was that cool!” My friend turned to me dead serious: “Why don’t you like compliments? You should think about that, Marcella.”

And think about it I have.

None of that exchange was my friend’s fault. He values me, just as I dearly value him. I’m grateful for his kind words. The fault lies within me, wedged deep within an ardent fear of not deserving my own dreams.

We’ve all felt Imposter Syndrome. We fear that one day, someone will walk up and expose us for the fraud we really are. We fear we don’t deserve our success and the nice things people say about us.

Did you know almost everyone feels the same way — even the folks you admire?

Going after your own dreams means coming to terms with the fact that you deserve it. Not only will it make the path easier, it will make it more enjoyable.

2. Hone Your Craft

A few years ago, I dreamt of being independent, of not reporting to a boss, of living by my own rules. After much research and online learning, I accumulated enough skills (and guts) to quit my job and start my own business. In one sense, I achieved my dream!

A few years down the road, I’ve realized that true freedom takes more than just one step.

Now that I am my own boss, I’m still not completely free. I report to clients, instead. In some cases, this has proved to be more tortuous than a boss!

Truth be told, I started my own business by learning about my industry, but I didn’t learn enough about running a business.

Someone forgot to tell me that every single part of a dream project becomes part of your craft. My advice is to learn it.

Now, I’m learning about turning difficult conversations into positive experiences. Now, I’m learning about negotiation. Now, I’m learning about copywriting.

Learning constantly is a must, and honing your craft is a process — one you won’t regret. Without it, your dream may slip right out of your hands.

3. Keep Pushing For More

Every step in the journey is fresh and new — both the low and high points. As time goes on, my interests and plans change, too.

I once started an online ticketing platform, only to rid myself of it after a few months. I got swept up in the “startup” craze, and it took my own experimentation to realize that’s not my path. I took a step back and re-routed my course.

Likewise, I never thought I’d want to write books and self-publish them for the world to see. (I also never thought anyone would want to read them!) As the urge to write emerged, I tended to it and let it flourish.

Publishing my second book today feels just like the title says: “Life is what I say it is.” My question is this: if you could make life what you say it is, what would it be like?

I find that most people who want to live life by their own rules haven’t started trying yet. The decision is yours. I’d love to hear from you:

Are you ready to make life what you say it is?
What’s holding you back from living an awesome life?
What concerns you? How can you solve those issues?

Leave your ideas and stories in the comments!

Bio: When Marcella Chamorro decided to quit her job to live every day as if it’s a vacation, she turned her attention to creating a lifestyle that is both meaningful and exciting. Based in Nicaragua, Marcella runs a design company and guides those who want to break free and live their dreams through her writing.

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