I’m Not Dreaming Big Enough
I just got back from the World Domination Summit in Portland, Oregon. The first one ever was last year, and it changed my whole life.
This year, it was during Chris’s final speech that the need to dream bigger hit me like a punch in the face.
Chris Guillebeau, author of The $100 Startup and the host of the conference, stood up on stage and slowly rolled up his sleeves while tactfully placing a single envelope on a chair beside him on stage.
He began to slowly explain how last year, WDS went over budget about $30k, but he didn’t worry about it. He saw it as an investment in us.
This year, WDS grew to twice its size. Because of its popularity, WDS profits as well as an anonymous donation allowed a surplus of $100k.
He took the envelope in his hands while explaining that he wasn’t planning to keep the money. Instead, he wanted to invest in us yet again.
As he opened the envelope to show us what we would be receiving, I started shaking my head.
Inside each of the 1,000 envelopes was a neatly folded $100 bill. Every attendee would be receiving one.
Shortly thereafter, we all left the auditorium. Many people with big smiles, laughing and cheering.
I–on the other hand–burst into tears.
I felt an enormous surge of emotion. Happiness, love, inspiration, and guilt.
This man, who already changed my life more than he will ever know, was now investing in me and my potential. This man, who didn’t even know me, was giving me money he could so easily keep for himself.
This man was helping 1,000 people in the hopes that they would help others.
A year ago this Sunday, Strong Inside Out was born.
I launched this site because I wanted to inspire people to feel stronger from the inside out. I wanted to inspire hope in those who felt lost and weak.
As much as I’ve done this year and as many people as I’ve connected with, I’m still left with this sense that I can be doing more.
On my way home from WDS this year, I felt plagued with this overwhelming feeling:
“What I’m doing now isn’t enough.”
Now, I talk to you guys all the time about how you are always enough, and as a human being, that is true. We are all enough. We are worthy of love and happiness.
But my dreams, the message I want to spread, is bigger than this site, than my posts, than my training/coaching practice.
What I am doing right now isn’t dreaming big enough.
When I train or coach someone online, I can be a catalyst to change their lives, just as WDS 2011 did for me.
But that’s the thing: I can only help one person at a time.
With group training classes (like my recent bootcamp at Lululemon), I can help a lot more people at a time. The ripple effect spreads wider as more people hear about it, and hopefully, the people who attend would spread the empowerment to those they know.
But I’m based in Los Angeles. The ripples can only go so far.
After WDS this year, I am allowing myself to start dreaming bigger.
I asked myself:
“How can I expand the ripples further? How can I cover the entire United States and maybe even the world?”
Well, I’d have to get out there.
I am most effective at changing lives when I can meet with people, when I can be there with them and show them who I really am. Online, I believe there’s always a veil of “Well, you can write all you want, but who’s to say you’re not just a creative writer?”
I feel you, guys. I’m right there with you.
I don’t just want to tell you I did it. I want to help you do it, too.
I want to get out there and change as many lives as I possibly can. Hell, I want to SAVE as many lives as I possibly can.
Over the next few weeks, I will be working my a** off contacting people to help make my dream of inspiring widespread hope a reality.
This $100 will not go to helping me. This will be my investment in hope for those who need it most.
That’s all the details I can give you on my plans right now (see page 44 in Make This Your Moment for the research as to why ;)).
So how does this relate to your life?
I find that a lot of people I meet/know have a hard time taking action.
When it comes down to making life happen, we either choose to take action and direct our lives as much as we can, or sit back and let life happen to us.
There comes a point in every one of our lives when we are faced with the choice to either go big or go home.
So let me ask you this:
What big dreams are you keeping yourself from realizing?
Do you think of those big dreams and immediately write them off as nonsense?
Have you always wanted to get healthy, but are afraid you won’t “do it right?”
Have you ever played around with an idea, just to shove it back in the corners of your head because you think it will be too much work?
Do you know you are capable of achieving so much more, but hesitate to try because you’re afraid you might fail?
I want to urge you today to just get out there.
Action step for this weekend:
Commit to taking one chance you wouldn’t have this weekend.
In honor of my baby’s (this site’s) birthday, take a risk.
This one step can be your catalyst to a revelation, to your own evolution.
But you’ll never know unless you try. Unless you take a chance.
You only get one life. Stop putting off greatness.
What risk are you going to take this weekend?
Please do tell in the comments below. And if I can help you in any way, let me know there, too!
Looking for more inspiration to start living your life? Check out these posts, too: How to Enjoy Life… because apparently it’s not that simple and Deal With Your Life: Refuse to Play Dead.
You want more? Ok ok, don’t worry! I have plenty of inspirational Pinterest boards, and I’m updating Facebook and Twitter with motivation daily! ;)
photos 2 and 4 courtesy of Armosa Studios, greatness background by kevin dooley
16 Responses to “I’m Not Dreaming Big Enough”
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- HOPE IS REAL: My Big Dream Revealed | Strong Inside Out - [...] It is with hope, elation and fire that I present to you My Big Dream: [...]
DREAM BIG and TAKE ACTION, yes! But it is my belief, Amy, that when you sincerely touch the life of one person and inspire and motivate them to effect yet another person’s life in the same way, YOU are reaching that second person as well, and therefore and then on. It is a ripple effect that is happening without you even being fully aware. And we do not need to be aware, just happy.
I ADORE this comment, Megan. Thank you. :)
This weekend, I’ll be at the lake, watching the CrossFit Games – When I’m not glued to the TV, I’ll be out by the water writing 2 guest posts that I hope to get onto a couple of high profile sites. I’m risking that time and risking failure.
Fear of failure has been my struggle since I was about 22…I’m overcoming it slowing – It’s posts like this that I need to see everyday.
Thanks, Amy.
Graham recently posted..What The Hell is Fitness: The Definitive Guide
I’m very happy to have encouraged you, Graham! Sounds like an amazing weekend!
I’ve struggled with fear of failure a lot in the past, too. Kudos to you for overcoming it and taking action in the face of it!
I look forward to seeing those posts!
Amy-
One of the biggest obstacles I have been facing and currently facing has to do with my dreams. When I left home and went to college, I set pretty high standards for myself. I fully believed that I would accomplish these goals, and that I had it in me to do so. I did not accomplish any of them, and that has been a strong source of depression for me. I have been extremely hard on myself for not living up to my own standards, and it continues to haunt me to this day. I still have my dreams in my head, and I think about them almost daily. I’m hoping that I can make the necessary changes and acquire the mindset to at least make an honest attempt at achieving my dreams. I hope I don’t sound selfish, because I know there are many people worse off then myself; but I’ve always asked myself the question: “How can I help others if I am so unhappy and hate myself?” Is that a legit question to ask, or am I just plain selfish for wanting to concentrate on MY happiness and MY dreams? I’ve always heard the old adage ‘service before self’, but I feel uncapable of helping others (I want to) given my current mindset and issues. Any thoughts?
James
I think a lot of us with depression feel like we’re being selfish because we “know there are many people worse off” then us, which is part of the problem. Your emotions, your pain is completely valid because it is real. I think a lot of people will poo-poo it because they have never felt the depth of sadness that you are feeling, or haven’t in a long time at least. When one is not in the state of sadness, it’s hard for them to believe that you can’t just “get over it.” The important thing is not to beat yourself up about your depression, but to take action to enrich areas of your life that are bringing you down. You’re doing this, James! You’re taking action to make your life better, so please don’t think that your feelings are selfish.
One thing I should have addressed is the importance of taking care of yourself first. I am in the place I’m in now because I’ve done so much work on myself up to this point. I now feel like I have a handle on my happiness and finally feel ready to help others. Though there is something to be said for shifting one’s focus to helping someone else; it takes one out of the dwelling state and into the doing state. For now, focusing on just you and your recovery is completely ok. The rest will come when you are healthy and well, believe me. :)
Wow. Every time I read a post here, it’s like a small aha! moment in my brain. This weekend I’m going to finish my resume, so I can apply for new jobs next week. I’ve been meaning to do it for sometime, but I’m so settled in my current job. So in honor of your website birthday, I’m doing it.
Yes, Nicole! Thank you for honoring Strong Inside Out’s birthday wish! I look forward to hearing great things! :)
YEAH! Dream big. Happy dreaming, planning, acting… C :)
Clare recently posted..Friday Inspiration: Sylvia Plath
Thank you, Clare! You too!
Hi Amy :)
I have read over and over from different blogs about how Chris gave away $100 to every WDS participant. It just blows my mind. Actions speak louder than words ever can. It is darn inspiring.
I remember when I was in college. I was really good at “talking” about how I wanted to change the world… Which I guess most people in college are pretty good at talking about.
But then I entered the real world and I realized why so few people actually change it. Because it is darn hard work! Over the past few years of my life, I have slowly but surely learned that taking action is the most powerful thing I can do. Even if I only have a mediocre idea it is still better to take action and learn from my experience rather than try to wait years for a great idea.
Izzy recently posted..The 1 Thing College Never Taught You About Following A Dream
Love this:
“I have slowly but surely learned that taking action is the most powerful thing I can do.”
Action is the most important step. We can dream all we want but they’ll stay dreams for our whole lives if we don’t go DO something about it!
Don’t write off ideas as mediocre; you never know how big they’ll be until you act on them! :)
Amy,
I was a first-time attendee at the WDS this year, and like you, had an intense “a-ha” moment. Trust me when I say that you have inspired beyond your arms-reach. I don’t live in L.A. (I’m on the east coast), I have my own trainer, yet still I come to your blog for inspiration, validation, whatever you want to call it. Keep up the dynamic work and know that you are touching people in a very meaningful way.
Best,
Carolyn
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Carolyn. I really appreciate your sharing this with me.
I wish we got a chance to meet! Next time, let’s make sure to say hi! :)
Hi Amy, I came across your guest post on thechangeblog purely by chance and was immediately compelled to look at your site as your words resonated with me. I’ve always been extremely hard on myself when it comes to achievements and I guess life in general, I’d been a high achiever in my school years only to find in adulthood myself drifting and making poor decision after poor decision whilst having little direction or purpose in my life and I naively thought good things would just fall into my lap. I’m now in my early thirties and struggling to get out of a rut with my negative attitude to life despite being happily married and the father of a gorgeous baby son. I feel I don’t deserve the good things in life and can’t enjoy good things when they happen. I thought that when my father died a few years ago, closely followed by my grandfather and then shortly after experiencing the birth of my son I would have some kind of life changing moment that would inspire and motivate me to achieve what I know I am capable of. I’m tired of being bitter because of the bad things that have happened and not enjoying the good things in life when they come along, I want to make my mark and achieve great things so the people that matter, alive and sadly no longer with us, can be proud of me and just as importantly I can be proud of myself!
I think just writing this and reading your inspiring words is a good first step for me I need to break this one step at a time and then I can start realising I really can change things if I want it badly enough and begin to make the most of my life.
Keep up the fantastic work and I wish you all the success in the world
Kevin
Kevin, thank you thank you thank you for opening up here. Reading your story is inspirational to ME!
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said: “I’m tired of being bitter because of the bad things that have happened and not enjoying the good things in life when they come along…”
The point in our lives in which we learn to move on from past injustices, failures and hardships with an open heart and mind is in itself a victory. You should be so proud to have come to that realization! You just saved yourself years of negativity and bitterness!
Thank you again for sharing here, and much health, happiness and success to you, too!
Amy