Dreamers get a bad rap these days. But, as long as I can recall, I have been a dreamer. When I was little and living in foster care for many years, I dreamt of finding a tribe I could belong to and moving to an island to eat coconut cream pies ala Gilligan. I dreamt of having ruby slippers and making good friends with a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Lion. And, I dreamt of creating a safe home where consistency, creativity, fun and peace prevailed.

Many people told me my dreams were too big, and that I had my head in the clouds. And in darker moments with wounded people, I was told that I wasn’t smart enough, pretty enough, rich enough, educated enough, or experienced enough to achieve my dreams.

They were wrong...

At this time of the year it is not unusual to hear people talking about goals. These might include everything from relationship renewal to weight loss. Conversely, the recent trend is to toss New Years resolutions right out of the window – too much pressure in an already fast paced world!

I was recently introduced to the concept of “naming your year” by a wonderful client I have been working with. This idea inspired me more than traditional resolutions because it felt far more motivating with far less stress. So…I am naming 2014 as my year to be fearlessly faithful. This inspired me to create a quarterly newsletter in order to support other people who are on their journey as well.

Naming Your Year When reflecting on your personal and professional dreams, does a word or name organically rise to the surface of your spirit in naming your year? If so, I encourage you to write this down and place it somewhere visible as a daily reflection. This affirmation then becomes a gentle reminder to help move you forward in honoring your goal or dream.

It's important to remember that every person on a journey of growth will encounter stumbling blocks along the way. At the top of the list are two major goal busters:

Perfectionism • Procrastination