Special Guest Blog Monday Book Nook: Growing Up for Grown Ups: A Dozen Ways to a Financially More Stable You!
Hello Everyone! In continuing with the series of guest blogs from the dreaming community, I am thrilled to post this one from Mimi Rossi, author of Growing Up for Grown Ups: A Dozen Ways to a Financially More Stable You! I’ve been very inspired by Mimi through the years as she has dreamed her path as a creative and business professional. There is much to be gained from her blog below (and her book!). Enjoy!
“Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the unconscious, and they must be brought into connection with action. They must be woven together.” ~Anais Nin
In my book, Growing Up for Grown-Ups: A Dozen Ways to a More Financially-Stable You!, I begin each chapter with a quote. When I chose this particular quote it pertained to what I was to discuss in that chapter – to keep working on your dreams (what you want to be/do/have) while creating financial stability. After being introduced to Bonnie’s teachings, I realize the meaning of this quote means so much more.
I realize that dreams intertwine not only with what you want to be/do/have, but also where you are supposed to go and what you’re really meant to do in this lifetime. It’s all fluid, it changes, it’s all connected and realizing that is a pathway to happiness. What truly makes you happy is locked in your dreams and the universe gives you all kinds of clues and signs to help unlock those “mysteries,” so it’s a shame to ignore them or push them out of the way to make money and survive. Surviving is not living and we need to manifest ours dreams to truly live.
“Growing up” comes with challenges, but it doesn’t mean losing hold of your dreams. You don’t have to stop dreaming to make money; in fact, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. You should never lose sight of your dreams, no matter where you are or where you work. The trick is learning to be flexible with them.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher. I changed my mind a few times, as kids do. By the time graduation came around, however, my interest in teaching was fading. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I dabbled in interior-exterior design, and after designing costumes for some bands, I discovered a new dream: I wanted to be a singer and performer. My mom responded by asking, “What are you going to do if you don’t make it?” At first I was hurt; I thought she didn’t believe in me. It was only later that I understood she was trying to help me see the big picture: she wanted me to dream, but she also wanted me to be financially secure.
As I got older, my mom’s concern held true; I discovered that as my life changed, my dreams had to change with it. I did pursue a singing career and wrote my own songs, but I was so focused on becoming a performer that I refused to consider other, more profitable avenues for my talents. Even when industry professionals approached me about selling my songs to other artists, I ignored their suggestions and turned down some great opportunities to fund my singing career with publishing royalties. It took several years of convincing before I finally agreed to a publishing deal and made a few bucks.
The moral of the story is to let your dreams be fluid. If I hadn’t maintained such tunnel vision, I might have opened new doors for my singing career much earlier. Furthermore, selling my songs didn’t mean I had to let go of my ultimate dream of performing—it just meant I had to be open to other paths to get there.
When you lose your dreams, you lose yourself. It’s important to have dreams and pursue them, but it is also important to be financially stable. Visualize and keep your dreams alive!
