Life is formulated by dreams and you have a big one. Every time you think about it you get goosebumps. You have all of these plans in your heart and a smile comes to your face when you think about the possibilities. I personally think that’s a good thing.

And then things don’t go as planned. Interruptions, roadblocks and disappointments occur that seem to take the life out of you. It is frustrating, especially when you are a big dreamer. Ever wonder how to pass that point in life where you think you are at the max of your capacity? Its like if someone or something has put a limit or a lid on your life. You know, that moment when you feel stuck professionally and personally? Some in their 40’s and 50’s would refer to it as the midlife crisis, but those in the 20’s and 30’s would say its just depression, bad breaks or simply bad luck. Well, no matter how you might call it, it happens to all of us. We long for meaning, achievement and advancement and everything we do seems to tell us, “That’s it, you got you your capacity level”. Life seems to stop, pause and a sense of emptiness starts to overwhelm us. This is the moment when you might say to yourself, “you have to try harder,” or on the contrary, “face it, it’s not worth it”. I know, confusing conversations and even contradictory ones, that are looking for a reason why things didn’t worked out. These are the conversations you have with yourself in the car, the shower, the beach or the backyard. It is where you talk to God, (well sometimes you are just complaining to Him!) And you ask the question. Why?

I have learned by my own experiences that many of these feelings come from an exhausted body, mind and spirit and nothing more. You feel that you cannot go on, and at the same time you cannot stop. Exhaustion takes over, exhaustion is the boss of you.

So I would suggest to do one thing: Just STOP.

• Stop what you are doing and take time to eat well, exercise and rest.

• Many of our emotional and physical exhaustion comes from bad nutrition, poor exercise and little to no rest. We tend to treat a physical problem as a spiritual one when in reality we are so engulfed in “the project” or “the dream” that we neglect the most important ingredient of it; Our body. Take care of yourself, you’ll thank yourself later.

• Take uninterrupted time to think where you are and where you want to be.

• Our daily activities can overwhelm us and sometimes we forget why we are doing what we are doing in the first place. A refresher is always healthy for the soul and mind. It has the capacity to create new energy and drive. Quiet time to reflect where we are, those steps that worked and those that didn’t, is important to regroup and refocus. Time to write uninterrupted is a good exercise that will energize your soul and mind. Think frequently.

• Open your heart and ears to new ideas and learn from them.

• Sometimes our heart is in the right place but our strategy is not. We need fresh eyes and perspective to learn from those around us and probably to tweak a little our approach. Someone that brings new ideas to the table should always be welcomed. Maybe one word or concept can change everything. Open your heart always.

• Pray and prepare yourself.

• Prayer is crucial. After considering all things, pray and prepare. There is nothing more important than to ask for guidance and vision when you have a big dream. After all it will consume most part of your time and resources and it will affect everyone that is around you. Being certain that you are pursuing God’s dream for your life is the most important part of your life. You don’t want to find yourself at the end of your life acknowledging that you chased the wrong path. Look for new resources. Pray and prepare consistently.

Take time to consider this. You might just be exhausted. To move forward, you have to STOP. “BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”

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© Copyright Danny Maldonado, 2012