Life Lessons—Dare to Dream

Many of you who follow this blog are in a time of transition, and life can, at times, seem out of focus. Some are trying on the sobriquet of writer, to see how it fits. Others are transitioning to the next level of writing. While more and more are taking on writing as a full-time career. No matter where you are, we can all use a little help balancing life.

That's where my friend, Reba, comes in.

Today I'm excited to announce a new addition to The Write Conversation. Dr. Reba Hoffman is a close friend of mine, an amazing writer and a life coach. She has agreed to share a regular post with us every Friday. She posts daily on her site, Magellen Life Coaching, and I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.

So without further fuss....

Dare to Dream

by Dr. Reba J. Hoffman

Your life as a writer is an incredible journey, filled with wonder, excitement, fear, rejection and a myriad of other exciting emotions. The path of the author is not an easy one. But you already know that, don’t you?

Writers are very unique individuals. You have a burning desire to string words together in a way that when others read them, their lives are changed. You desperately want to be successful so you learn, hone your craft and hope that someday you’ll see your name in print.

Know what I think? I think that makes you a very courageous person. I believe that your dream is too important to remain unlived. If you dream it, it’s is worth pursuing. Here are a few steps that may help you in your dream of being a writer:

1) It’s all about the journey. Many writers are so focused on what they feel is their destination (publication), they don’t think of enjoying the journey. Don’t let that happen to you.

2) Appreciate both sides of the coin. You’ll have celebrations and disappointments, acceptance and rejection, victories and losses. All are rich in experience and wisdom. Without both sides of a coin, it would hold no value. The same is true with your experiences.

3) It’s all temporary. Whether you are an instant overnight New York Times Best Selling Author or you can’t seem to complete your first rough draft, it won’t last. If you’re in a slump, don’t worry. You’ll get out. If you are on top of the world, umm… yeah, you’ll come back down to earth.

4) Believe in yourself. You have within you a uniqueness that only you can bring to the literary world. Only YOU can see the world through your eyes. And only YOU can write a story the way you do. Trust that. Believe in the creative power of YOU.

Follow your heart. Believe in your gift. Allow the flame of passion rise up within you and let that fire flow out of you and onto the page. Above all, Dare to Dream!

Reba J. Hoffman is the founder and president of Magellan Life Coaching (www.magellanlifecoaching.com).  She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling and is a natural encourager. She serves as Member Care Coach for My Book Therapy and is the author of Dare to Dream, A Writer’s Journal. You can connect with Reba through her motivational blog, Finding True North, or by email at reba@magellanlifecoaching.com. You can also follow her on Twitter at @RebaJHoffman