For today’s blog entry, I want to post a message that I shared at Governor’s State University’s Celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In this new year, I want to invite you to make a new commitment to Dream again!
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It was 51 years, 4 Months, 4 weeks
and 1 day ago today that a then 34-year-old baptist preacher spoke about a life-changing dream!
Today, we celebrate that baptist preacher known as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream. Allow his dream to ignite your dreams!
I want to share with you the 10 Commandments For Dreamers…
1. Thou Shall Not Dream Small!
As you go through life and grow through life, your dreams should grow with you.
When I was a child, I could not wait to be a teenager, when I was in middle school, I couldn’t wait to go to high school, when I was in high school I couldn’t wait to graduate! When I failed my honors English class and never had a high school graduation, I couldn’t wait to go to summer school! When I got my A’s in summer school, I couldn’t wait to to get to Clark Atlanta! When I got my Bachelor’s Degree, I couldn’t wait to get my Master’s Degree! When I graduated with my Master’s Degree, I couldn’t wait to finish my Doctorate…thou shall not dream small! Your dreams must grow with you every year of your life and at every stage of your life! Dream bigger and bigger!
2. Thou Shall Not Surround Yourself With Dream Killers!
There’s a well-known story of a man
named Joseph in biblical literature, who dreamed of who he would be and told his jealous brothers about it. They immediately plotted and planned how to kill him and kill the dream that was in him. Thou shall not surround yourself with dream killers!
Examine your circle and allow the dream killers to exit expeditiously!
3. Thou Shall Identify Your Dream Team!
As we realize that no man or woman is an Island, according to the famous English poet John Donne, we must be honest and recognize that some dreams will require teamwork.
And for certain dreams, it is teamwork that will make the dream work!
4. Thou Shall Write Your Dreams Down!
Scientific studies show us that by following the simple step of writing your dreams and visions down, you immediately increase its probability for becoming your reality.
Write your dreams down. Create dreams boards and vision boards. Take photos of your dreams visualized and make that visual your screensaver. Change your passwords to words that remind you of your dream!
5. Thou Shall Dream Away…
Dream in a location away from your normal scenery. Find spaces and places that you can identify that heighten your creativity and freedom to think beyond the norm. It could be a park, a museum, a hotel lobby, or a view of the water. Whatever frees your mind to think beyond your now, go there, and visit that specific place regularly.
6. Thou Shall Act On Your Dreams!
Dreams do not have a same day delivery service. Writing them down is necessary, but not enough! You must take actionable steps in order for your dreams to become a reality.
Today, we celebrate a dreamer who was not just a dreamer but he was also a doer.
As your sit in this academic setting, you are keenly aware that you can’t go straight from registration to graduation, but in between registration and graduation there is matriculation.
Thou shall act on your dreams! what action steps can you take today?
7. Thou Shall Not Contract Comparisonitis!
Comparison is a dream distractor. It can poison your process and delay you on your path. No one else’s dream timeline will look exactly like yours.
Focus on YOUR focus! If it frustrates you to see others’ progress, keep on your blinders when you are tempted to compare and contrast your own personal progress with others.
Personally, it energizes me to surround myself with individuals who are further in their progress of their dreams. I make it a life requirement to surround myself with go-getters, not go sitters!
8. Thou Shall Make Daily Dream-Driven Decisions!
Your dreams for your life should be reflected in your daily decisions and your daily schedule! Make each and every life decision, with your dream in mind! Post every social media post, with your future in mind. You may clear your computer’s history, but the Internet has a long memory!
Don’t disqualify yourself for your future dreams through your own posts.
9. Thou Shall Doubt Your Doubts!
You were created with dreams within you. Those dreams were put inside of you to be actualized, realized and to materialize.
Thou shall not doubt your dreams, connect with your Creator to gain the courage, the fearlessness and the chutzpah to believe!
10. Thou Shall Dream Again!
Perhaps you have already experienced a disappointment in your life that has crippled your ability to dream without automatically self-imposing limits on yourself.
Shake off yesterday’s failures and
Dream again…
Dust off complacency and comfort and Dream again…
Strip away any shame and pain, and Dream again…
Today we celebrate the success of one man who changed the course of history, redefined norms, because
of a fearless dream! Honor his life and legacy by rediscovering your dream!
Dream Big! Dream Now!
And Dream again…
and again…
and again…
and again…
and again…
