5 Observations about having big dreams

I have been thinking a lot about dreams lately. It seems that having the dream and living out that dream are two totally separate things at times. It is tough to have a dream and know that it is great but seeing it go so slowly or not seeing other people believe in your dream either. We are all told to dream and dream big but no one ever tells you how hard it is to have a dream. Not seeing that dream happen when you want is even harder.

Here are a few things I have learned from the words of others or my own observations about dreaming big:

1. Dreaming is the easy part
Ever since childhood, we are told that we need to dream big and that if you wish really hard enough our dreams will be sure to come true. So because we are told to dream, we let our minds wonder to all the wonderful things we want to accomplish. This is fantastic, don't get me wrong. Dreaming leads to higher satisfaction with life and makes us think about what we really want to do with this life we are given. I believe that the reasons so many dreams don't make it to existence is because we have a hard time distinguishing between having the dream and living the dream and excepting that not all dreams are easy to have.

2. Dreams take a long time
Now unless we are one out of a million, our dreams are never gonna just be handed to us the moment we think them into existence. Wouldn't that be great though?.... (pause to have the very unrealistic fantasy... ok, over it) People don't tell us how long and how much sacrifice and hard work it takes to actually see a part of our dream come alive. When we see musical artists become over-night sensations we just assume that that was the first time they picked up their instrument. You never get to see how long it took to meet the right people and how many albums were made before someone would actually give them the time of day. And even then, it's such a slim chance that things are gonna go right. We have to really keep at it and live our dream out everyday. Yea, so maybe I can't talk to the masses about how great they are, but I sure am going to live my life encouraging so many around me everyday.

3. Dreams take sacrifice
Dreams take sacrifice, not just in time and hard work. Sometimes we have a thought about what we want for our dream and we find it hard to allow that dream to change. There are going to be people and circumstances that are going to make us rethink what we want to do and if we are even doing the right thing. We have to be open to change and adapt. I guarantee that being stubborn and unwilling to give a little will be the first thing to break the dream. I understand that it is like a small baby that  you created but you need to let that baby breathe and make its own choices. That does not mean it's okay to let someone come in a take all of our ideas and shove them down our throats until it looks nothing like we wanted it to. This just means that if we really want to give this dream a fighting chance we have to be willing to change.

4. Never let anything or anyone keep you from dreaming
Failing is a big part of dreaming. Failure leads to experience and learning. Being successful is about learning from your mistakes. If your dream flops, SO WHAT?! Change how you did things and try again. Being unrelenting is one of the biggest things that will lead to living out those big dreams of yours. Just because someone does not agree with your dream does not make it stupid and impossible. God is the God of impossible. Everyone's experiences are going to be different and you have to realize that the failures of some are not going to be the failures of all. Now..... this does not mean that you should shun all of the people that don't understand. If it's someone that you love and trust, listen to what they have to say. Having trusted advisors are so beneficial. They will be able to see things that you don't and could offer suggestions that could drastically improve your ideas. There is a big difference in being rude and shooting down your dreams and giving good, Godly guidance.

5. Enjoy the journey
God told me one day when I was really wanting all the answers "the journey is beautiful..." I wanted all of the answers and every mapped out step of how he would have this dream become a reality. I truly believe that the best thing about living out a dream is getting there. Life is full of surprises and you have to just enjoy the ride and celebrate the small victories!

DREAM BIG!

Climbing in the dark...

Hey everyone! It has been a while since I first posted so I figured that I would post while something is on my mind.

 This is kind of an epiphany that I had a few days ago that I thought I would share. I don't think I am the only one who wishes they knew what every step in a journey would look like. I find myself asking God repeatedly, "God, what is the next step? Show me what to do next..." 

I am one of those people who like to read the directions and follow all of the planned out steps to something. If it comes with instructions you bet I am going to read them. It is because a part of me knows that someone took the time to plan out the way that would give the best results and if I am going to put forth the effort to do something then I want the best result! So, naturally I want to know what's next. I don't think I'm alone here... am I?

Well, while I was having quiet time with God and he was speaking to me he spoke to me about this. He said "Brandi, why do you need to know every step? Instead I want to show you the result and just trust me with the rest. The journey is beautiful." I thought, "you're right"

While I was talking to Courtney on the phone telling her about this I suddenly thought of this:

If God would show me every step... if he showed me the succession of this journey, what is the point in actually living it? If I knew everything that was going to happen, what would be the significance in actually living it?!

This gave me peace!

And it's the truth. Sometimes we want to know what is next because we have an obsession with control when most of the time God is asking to have all of the control and let him do what only he can do. And sometimes the way we got to where we are is more of the bigger picture than actually being there.

So if you are feeling the same way... I encourage you to just let go of needing every step planned out and let God do what he does best...

AMAZE!

(Brandi)

Hello and Welcome

HELLO!
Welcome to our blog!! Hopefully you have already seen us on Facebook but if you haven't... check us out! I decided that it makes a lot of sense for us to have a blog and that this is one of the best ways to get our messages out. 

If you do not know what we are about we will be uploading a video of who we are and what we are about soon but in the mean time I suppose this is also a good opportunity to share. My name is Brandi and my PIC (partner in crime) is Courtney. We grew up across the country from each other but both have similar stories and a firm foundation in Jesus Christ. God has brought us through many trials throughout our lives, all for what we believe is a chance to help others. Embrace the Ugly is about being who you are and embracing all of the wonderful things that may make you different from others. God made us all unique and with His own individual plans for our lives. We strongly believe in showing love!! 

We are those weirdo people that see everyone as special and wonderful. And you are!! We want to show you too!

Embrace the Ugly means this...
You know those weird things that we all have about ourselves? I know you have them because I know I do.. I used to run around the living room pretending my life was a Broadway musical. Oh yea, the one with the big note held out at the end paired with a few less than mediocre dance moves and a jump off the couch. Yea, those things... we tend to hide those from the outside world because we are afraid that no one will understand! We are afraid that if people saw who we really were than they wouldn't want anything to do with us. The truth is that we all have weird quirks about us, but we deem these traits as "ugly" so we do all we can to hide it. Here, we say.. forget all that! The world has enough people trying to be the same as everyone else. Let's be who we are! Dance moves and all.

Instead of hiding our "ugly" let's..

Embrace the Ugly

(Brandi)