Three Keys To Living Our Dreams

There are three main questions I want to tackle to help us live our dreams. Of course, I won’t really be able to give solutions, but at least I can make sure we keep thinking about them and stay on the path towards living our dream. It’s a journey I’m enjoying myself and one I hope you’ll join me on. I don’t have the answers and there’s lots to learn, but I’m keen to share my progress with you here.

1. How Can We Be Happier?

I’m becoming more and more interested in the psychology of happiness. Being happy is something we all dream of and that we all deserve. I had a really positive response to my article, 101 Ways To Feel Happy, so I’m keen to find out about more recipes for happiness and ideas that will make us all happier. I’ve been reading lots about happiness and can’t wait to share what I’m learning. Of course, it’ a huge topic but it’s exciting to learn about something which is so important. After all, isn’t the meaning of life to be happy?

2. How Can We Stay On Track?

My other huge passion is perseverance as I think this is the key to achieving your dreams, whatever they are. It seems clear to me that if you want to live your dream you’ll have to focus on it and work towards it persistently. I’ve already suggested ways to help people persevere and stay motivated, like using Twitter as a Motivational Tool or through co-motivation, and I want to come up with more options to help us stay focused on making our dreams come true and getting what we want.

3. Who Inspires Us To Improve Our Lives?

I want to be surrounded by positive role-models so I’m going to be seeking out and writing more about inspirational people. As a passionate writer and travel fiend I’ve got a few ideas of travelers I want to put in the spot light and writers who have some great lessons to teach us. I’m inspired by people who are adventurous, selfless, brave, confident and unique but not everyone who inspires me has all these qualities. Here are four inspirational people and why I think they inspire us:

  • The Dalai Lama: spiritual leader and philosopher, inspires us to try to be better people, kinder, calmer, more loving and understanding.
  • Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay: the first men to climb Mount Everest inspire us to believe in ourselves and try to achieve goals that seem impossible.
  • Dian Fossey: died while working to save mountain gorillas in Africa and inspires us to be brave and follow our convictions.
  • Nelson Mandela: apartheid survivor and African leader, inspires us to persevere and keep striking out for what we believe in.

I’d love to interview these people and write about their advice on how we can live our dreams here but it might be hard to get in touch with them:) What I’d prefer is to find everyday people who inspire us. People like my friend’s mother-in-law, who moved to Australia 50 years ago with no english, a baby and just one suitcase. People like my child’s teacher, whose preschooler has cancer, but continues to smile and be happy despite the stress and worry she must feel.

Who inspires you and why?

Many thanks to The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for permission to use the photo. It’s so inspiring to see incredible people having fun and loving life.

Thanks for reading

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19 Comments

  1. Tony Bryant August 11, 2009 at 10:49 am - Reply

    Hi Annabel

    Lovely post; The Dalai Lama is always an inspiration whether or not one identifies as a Bhuddist.

    With all due respect though, I believe the correct name of Tenzing Norgay’s climbing companion is Sir Edmund Hilary, who passed away last year.

    • Annabel Candy August 11, 2009 at 12:04 pm - Reply

      Thanks for reading and for pointing out that classic typo. I can’t believe I posted it as Sir Hillary Edmund. I wonder if I was sub-consciously wishing a woman had been the first person to conquer Mount Everest… But really, there is no excuse for that kind of glaring error, especially since I always check my posts up to 20 times before sending them live. Sir Edmund Hilary is a true hero, especially to all New Zealanders since he really put New Zealand on the map for the rest of the world by knocking Everest off. As a born again Kiwi I really should have got that right… I hope they don’t try to take my Kiwi passport back:)

  2. Teresa Long August 11, 2009 at 11:51 pm - Reply

    You are my inspiration! I have bought a book on how to be published, I have fed the ducks (as per your previous blog!) I think one of the keys I have realised by reading your blogs is that you have to do something extra every day to keep happy and move forward….rather than just doing what you need to do to “get through the day” thanks for the inspiration!

  3. Dayne | TheHappySelf.com August 12, 2009 at 8:00 am - Reply

    What a fantastic blog you have going here Annabel! Great stuff!

    To answer your question, the people that inspire me most are…

    -Pema Chodron
    -Thich Nhat Hahn
    -Ultra Marathon Runners
    -Byron Katie
    -Artists like Banksy, Bob Dylan, and more

    :)

    Thanks for the great post!

    Dayne
    TheHappySelf.com

  4. Annabel Candy August 12, 2009 at 12:04 pm - Reply

    @Teresa: Thanks for the great insight. I think you’re right, if we want to live our dreams, be successful and happy then taking one step towards it daily is the key. it doesn’t need to be huge, just taking time out to feed the ducks, or enjoy a long bath if that makes us feel good, will help keep balanced and on track.

    There are times in my life when all I’ve been able to focus on was each little thing I needed to do to “get through the day”, and all I looked forward to was the day being over so I could sleep. I was depressed and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. If we can try to do things that make us happy, not just the things that we have to do then our world will be a brighter and better place:) Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

    @Dayne: Well, I have a bit of research to do there but I have heard of Bob Dylan… he’s an actor isn’t he. Kidding:) Thanks so much for commenting. I love how much I’m learning from my readers and it’s wonderful to know that we’re all supporting each other and cheering each other on in our quest to be happier, more successful and even live our dream.

  5. janet August 13, 2009 at 5:23 pm - Reply

    Rita Golden Gelman
    A spunky lady who fulfilled her dream late in life!

  6. Kim Gilliom August 16, 2009 at 10:24 am - Reply

    Annabel, as we travel along America’s east coast our family is inspired by the people who saw a need and discovered or created a way to fulfill that need. What we need to realize is that there are still things that are needed ( simplification,global learning,preservation of natural resources) and we can still find new ways to fulfill them. Skies the limit or not! Cheers Annabel, you inspire us!! The Gillioms

    • Annabel Candy August 16, 2009 at 4:10 pm - Reply

      It sounds like an amazing trip. A journey of discovery – what travel and life is all about! I think this is so interesting. Complacency is definitely the enemy and it is inspiring to spend time with people who are coming up with creative solutions to problems both big and small. Thanks for keeping in touch with us while you’re on the road. Buen viaje, bon voyage and keep having a nice trip:)

  7. Tim Smith September 19, 2009 at 4:55 am - Reply

    Annabel,
    good article here.
    inspire.. Im inspired by john Wooden.. coach of UCLA in the 70s
    Amazing man. Solid core fundamentals. Great role model for kids, adults, sports athletes, business men. Whe he passes( 97 yrs young) the world will lose a phenomenal man

  8. Cecilia November 3, 2009 at 11:29 pm - Reply

    Dang Au Sau Su Kyi. Yes, Nelson Mandela.Yoko Ono.John Lennon. Alva Myrdall.Myself.My Mother.My Dad.Most of my dreams inspired by my Dad & validated by DASSK & Lennon.My dream is to be at peace.

  9. Cecilia November 3, 2009 at 11:38 pm - Reply

    Krishnamurti.

  10. Cecilia November 3, 2009 at 11:40 pm - Reply

    Justin Hennin, self taught tennis player, orphan. My champ.

  11. George Barr McCutcheon March 18, 2010 at 8:22 am - Reply

    hello fantastic website yea nice work Come on dude, these facts* and proof* i mean who is posting* lol :P

    • Annabel Candy March 18, 2010 at 8:37 am - Reply

      George – Thanks for dropping by. I’m posting:) There is a link to the research I read recently on sleep. I always back up my facts, a small hangover from a background in research as a journalist and completing an MA with three theses. It’s important to know where the information comes from and that they come from bonafide sources. Thanks for asking!

  12. […] 3 Keys To Living Your Dream […]

  13. Cheryl from thatgirlisfunny May 17, 2010 at 1:44 pm - Reply

    Lately, I’ve been very aware of exactly who I’m around when I feel happy. I notice the activity and my surroundings – everything really that adds up to me feeling happy. Or maybe I should say content or maybe balanced is a better word. Some people throw me off. I feel clumsy and disorganized around them.

    I may never meet the famous people you’ve mentioned, but I do know that I treasure the people around whom I feel connected, confident and loved.

  14. Sharita Gopal August 18, 2010 at 6:58 am - Reply

    I would like to add the following very inspirational persons:

    Mahatma Gandhi
    B.K.S. Iyengar
    Rabindranath Tagore

    They changed and influenced the world by their thinking and actions, and they are still doing.

  15. AmaSilyS... December 9, 2010 at 11:21 pm - Reply

    I have met a lot of stories about people that inspire me, some famous some anonymous… The most important is that they are like us, with just a difference: They believe in their dreams, they follow their passions and even when they fall down, they never give up, they go ahead… always towards everything they want to accomplish.
    Every human being who does it INSPIRES ME!
    GREAT POST! VERY INTERESTING BLOG!

  16. valeria June 7, 2011 at 1:47 pm - Reply

    I am a college student right now. Always worried and stressed about what I am going to do with my life. I live my life day by day sometimes not knowing what to do. But after reading this article I feel more relieved about not knowing what to do with myself. I also believed all the myths like there will be a prince charming who will rescue me. Finding true love is necessary and living happily after. I am 19 years old, and I am ready to beat life like if it is a tornado coming to haunt me. Because in you life you need to find happiness only with intelligence. Live the moment.

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