Daydreaming is Good

In my last post I touched on the importance of working now on what you really want to be doing, pursuing your "bliss" even while you're wading through the morass. A late Friday after a grueling week seems like a great time to expound on that topic.

Most of our lives we're told to focus on reality. Somewhere along the way someone probably even told you, "Stop daydreaming!" Get your homework done. Get that project completed. Focus on the here and now. That's right, smash your dreams into oblivion and start squeezing lemons.

If you're serious about making a change, now may be the time to start thinking differently. Start indulging in daydreams, a least a little. Explore what captivates your interest and really gets your blood pumping.

Now, I'm not encouraging anyone to while away the hours fantasizing about cruising the Caribbean on P-Diddy's yacht, sipping mojitos, and sunbathing with super models. If you play your cards right, who knows? Maybe you'll be wildly successful and end up hob-knobbing with the rich and famous. But, that kind of daydreaming won't do much to help you get there. What I am encouraging is spending time contemplating where your passion lies. What makes you tick?

Great places to start are hobbies and magazine subscriptions. Hopefully, you're spending your discretionary time on something you truly enjoy. Is there a way to parlay that into a gainful occupation?

There's a proverb that says, 'out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.' When you're not reciting corporate mantras, what dominates your conversation? Listen to yourself. What you talk about may have some meaningful clues to where you should invest more of your energy.

Even when you're working and find yourself thoroughly immersed in what you're doing - you know, those days when you look up at the clock and can't believe it's five o'clock already - stop and think about what had you so engaged that the day flew by. Chances are you'll find something was satisfying about what you were doing. Hell, you may even find a path to your bliss right in the middle of that miserable cave you're currently inhabiting.

I don't think I'm offering any grand wisdom in this post. But, take a little time for daydreams. You might be surprised what you find.

(On a personal note, I just found an advertisement for a hotel property on the beach in Nicaragua. I feel a daydream coming on...)