Last updated on December 7th, 2012 at 12:32 am
Are you frozen in your dream progress?
How do these 3 warning signs resonate with you?
1. You fight to keep your dream alive by defending it, justifying it or feeling guilty.
My emotions regarding my dream – especially where I feel like I have stopped making progress – have been oddly disproportionate lately. It’s the protective feeling I get inside when someone is teasing my son – that hot rush of superhero strength that wants to come to the defense of the little guy who cant help himself.
A question as simple as “hey, how is that photography dream of yours coming along?” starts a fast tailspin, and I listen to myself over-justify the reasons why I haven’t been loyal or as committed to making real progress. When I get defensive in other areas of my life (like in work or significant relationships) I get this dull ache in the bottom of my belly – and that is usually a sign that I need to look at what I’m choosing and the reasons why I’m choosing it.
The dull ache has arrived, and it’s kicking ass and taking names. I hate self reflection some times. Its always painful and raw and most of the solutions are actions I’ve been resisting for a while anyway.
2. You take your dream for granted by ignoring it or pretending you don’t need it to thrive.
When I first started dreaming with 8 Women Dream a year and a half ago, living a life of photography was all I could think about. I sought out challenges and contests, took risks and practiced. There are now days where the camera just sits there, untouched – and I realize how my attention to it has changed. Photography was something I used to plan my time around; its becoming the thing I have to find time for and squeeze in when I can. Why is that?
I don’t think its as simple as “one day its my dream and the next day it’s not.” Photography has always been important to me. My eyes automatically ‘frame’ shots everywhere I look. I can’t turn it off. Photography challenges me to question my perceptions, look for non obvious answers, and most of all, it gives me a declarative voice when I cant physically or emotionally speak for myself.
It is when I’m shooting that I feel at my most genuine, honest and real self. I don’t just want to do it, I know I need to do it.
3. You get angry about your dream and resist listening to your instincts.
I have a chance to follow my dreams every day by just taking my camera with me and shooting images of what I see and by practicing and pushing myself to learn things I don’t know. There have been times lately that I reach to take the camera in my hands and a real energy force pushes back – like when you try to push the bottom of two magnets together. No matter how hard you push them and try to get them to snap together, they keep resisting.
When I’m stressed, the familiar ” fight or flight” urge takes over. It’s not a logical resistance to my dream – it’s an emotional one. Some days I put up a fight and hang on with all I have. Other days I cant run away fast enough. And I’m not that fast of a runner.
So that’s where I’m at. There are no magic answers or cool wrap up sentences to this post, my fellow top photographers. I”m at a loss for inspirational thoughts and self motivating action.
Until next photo,
Rem
Remy’s dream is creating opportunities for photography showings and public displays of her work.
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