7 Ways to Achieve Your Dreams ...

1. Start at the Beginning

One of the ways to achieve your dreams is to start at the beginning. There is a lot of work to be done to get to the end; dreams can't be made reality just like that. So be patient and determined from the start. See your dreams as a series of steps to be achieved one by one, until you finally see the whole picture come together.

2. Believe in Yourself

It's essential to have faith in yourself and a ton of self-confidence. Opportunities don't just fall into your lap. Successful people have created opportunities for themselves, and always believed that they can succeed. If you think your dreams will happen as if by magic, then they are destined to remain just dreams. You must believe that you can do it.

3. Leap of Faith

At some point along the path to achieving your dreams, you may have to take a leap of faith. When I moved country, I had no idea how it was going to work out, but I was determined to give it a try. It was a calculated risk (I wasn't too far from home and had no dependents). And I'm incredibly proud of what I've achieved during these years.

4. Within Reason

One important factor in achieving your dreams is to ground them in reality. That might sound like a contradiction, but being realistic increases the chance of success. There's not much use dreaming of being a model if you're short, or wanting to own a shop if you don't like dealing with customers face to face. A short person who loves fashion could start a boutique, and the would-be shop owner could start an online business instead.

5. Be Determined

You also need to be very determined to achieve your dreams. As I've said, you'll get nowhere if you wait for them to happen. You'll have to be single-minded and stay focused, even when it's tough going and people around you aren't giving you any encouragement.

6. Work towards Your Goals

Since dreams aren't instantly accomplished, it'll probably take several stages to achieve them. This can be an advantage, as you can then focus on each stage one by one and see that you are getting closer. It will undoubtedly be hard work, so be prepared for the effort you'll need to put in.

7. Nothing Comes Easy

Finally, remember that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. It is, however, easy to be discouraged at how long it takes to get where you want to be. So when you feel that you're nowhere near achieving your dreams, remind yourself that it'll take time and effort. Plus you'll have a real sense of accomplishment when you do succeed.

Some dreams won't ever be realised, but it is possible to make them happen with determination, vision and hard work. And never let anyone crush yours. What are your dreams, and what are you doing to make them a reality?