Emotional Health

How to Move From Dreaming to Doing

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Hi Dear Friends,

Is there something you’ve been aching to try but are too afraid to pursue? Are you frozen in a life or belief system that no longer satisfies who you are today? Do you celebrate everyone else’s progress but your own?

Well, I’ve got some potentially difficult (yet ultimately awesome) news for you. A spiritual forest fire could be on the way.

At least that’s my pattern. Sometimes, when I’ve ignored my gut and resisted my intuition, the universe has had to use a megaphone to get my attention. You know, those kick-in-the-pants moments that end with falling on your face and having to pick yourself up and start fresh.

Here are a few of my messy examples…

I was in a painful relationship with a man I loved more than he loved me, we were about to get married and that’s when the letter with pictures from another woman came. He cheated. I was crushed beyond measure. Sadly, what happened next was ugly and regretful, but in the end I am certain that I sidestepped a disastrous marriage in the nick of time. Spiritual forest fire.

Six years later I married the man of my dreams.

I was in a career that was going nowhere (acting). Sure, I did great theater, a handful of bad films, some TV, and endless commercials, but I rarely had the opportunity to share my real gift—my authentic voice. In fact, I had wanted to quit for a while but I was too afraid to do it.

Then I got sick and the offers dried up. Spiritual forest fire.

Twelve years later I’ve got a few New York Times best-sellers and over a million cherished readers a month who value my unique approach to healthy living.

Are you starting to get the picture?

I share these stories to show you what’s possible on the other side of the fire.

And believe me, I could go on with endless examples of what happened when I refused to see the truth, got the rug pulled out from under me, then woke up and used my bottoming out as an opportunity to rise.

But you don’t have to wait for your own spiritual forest fire to start living the life you want to live.

Just because you may be feeling stuck in a relationship, financial situation, health crisis, or dead-end career, doesn’t mean you don’t have choices.

We’re constantly given opportunities to grow and our souls are always nudging us in the direction of what’s best for us—winking at us when we’re in alignment and warning us when we’re not. Our job is to stay open and listen.

When we feel stuck or resistant, our souls just ask that we remain receptive and willing to see things differently—even if that means feeling uncomfortable.

Lastly, human beings are creative for a reason. Evolution requires imagination. And let’s face it, change isn’t always easy, even when it’s positive, that’s why we need to lean on our creativity to show us the way.

Let’s try it together…

First, what do you want?

See it. Taste it. Ask for it. Talk to yourself, your journal, your closest compadres, God, The Universe, the trees, your dogs.

Next, start sketching a rough draft of how to get there.

This isn’t some woo woo exercise, it’s how many of the most successful people in the world manifest abundance in their lives. Once we’ve identified our wants we have to back them up with action.

Oh! And don’t forget: Unleash your imagination.

Allow yourself to believe that everything is in reach. My husband and I have a dreaming game we play where the sky’s the limit, any idea is possible. His dreams are always huge and fun. While mine are often small and tidy with neat tucked-in corners. “Babe, you have an imagination for a reason, use it!” Good advice.

And lastly, if you’re experiencing some dream constipation and just don’t know what you want, don’t worry.

Start there and have faith that the answers will come

There’s no need to force a direction. Allow your heart to open and be patient. Stay observant and don’t push the river. You’re brewing. Marinating. Gestating. And that, my friend, is enough for now.

I hope this blog is a step towards unsticking any stuckness. A bright future awaits. All you need is a pinch of courage, a dash of effort, and a cup of faith.

Your turn: I want to hear from you, take the first step and share one big (or small) dream of yours with me and our awesome community. Put it out there!

Peace and imagination,

 
Add a comment
  1. Jen says:

    Hi Kris,

    I’m a Canadian living in the UK, before I moved here I saw your first documentary when you were going through your treatment a long time ago. Then a couple months ago I randomly wondered what happened to you as I missed everything else you did. Then I recently rediscovered you as Kris Carr crazy sexy healthy everything and I didn’t know you were that girl at first. Then after I read more about your back ground it dawned on me! I was so wowed! And happy to know how everything had turned out for you!

    My dream is to continue to follow my passion for dance full time, be able do achieve my goals in body flexibility. I want to dance around the world. I want to inspire others to follow their dreams at any age like me and I want to write a positive thinking book. I’d like to start an online business to grow my income. I want to live in my dream home, marry the man of my dreams and have children. 🙂

  2. Stacie says:

    Hello Kris,

    This August, 2015, I’m tackling a longtime dream I have had – I am going to bicycle across the United States from Portland, OR, to Portland, ME, to raise money for skin cancer. I have worked in the medical laboratory field and have seen far too many people diagnosed with melanoma. The doctor I work for established the Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation in 2011, to help those unable to afford the treatment for melanoma and to fund groundbreaking research. What better way to help raise funds for the Foundation?
    Your emails are very inspiring and this one in particular because it makes me believe even more in myself. I will be pedaling 3,700 miles and climbing more the 140,000 feet over the course of 40 riding days! If you would like more information you can visit my website. Of course, any donation, large or small, would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you for your emails and your time,
    Stacie

    • Dawn says:

      Somewhat related, although not for fundraising, you might enjoy reading about this cyclist from Chicago who is biking to Oregon. She was a librarian who quit her job and decided to bike across the country. I’ve been following her posts and they’re very inspiring. I wish I had her courage!

      https://ridebikessleepoutside.wordpress.com/

      — Dawn

  3. Mishan says:

    I love this. Thank you for sharing your personal experiences, Kris. It’s so inspiring to hear how you found so much good and happiness after facing your fears and challenges. And PS, this PDF is SO helpful! xx

  4. Allison says:

    Hi, Kris!
    I definitely need this message…today and for the days to come. I’m in a relationship that I don’t know if I should be in. Although we’ve been together 1.5 years, I feel like in the past few weeks I’ve learned more about who he really is and what his values really are…I’m realizing how different we are in multiple ways. I want to feed my fire and live my life to the fullest, and it’s hard to listen to my heart sometimes when I feel like I need to stick things out, that things will get better, etc. The things I’m seeing in him aren’t dramatic by any means, and in some areas he’s an amazing person, but I can’t imagine having his very different values be a part of the rest of my life. I’m still working things out in my head.

    I am constantly looking to you for inspiration. Thank you for being a constant and reminding us all what it means to live a crazy, sexy life 🙂

    • Kris Carr says:

      Sending you so much love, Allison. Keep checking in with your gut. It will lead you the right way. Trust yourself. xoxo

  5. Sarah says:

    Kris, Have I told you lately that I love you? 😉 Thank you for being so open and real. It is a tremendous gift to me!

    I keep all my dreams in alphabetized, color-coordinated organized little boxes. They are so safe and predictable that way! I look at them and know they are there but NEVER open them. Over the past 14 years I’ve transferred my fear-based relationship w/my parents to men, then to the workplace. I left my last toxic job 8 months ago. I don’t know whats next but I am happy. Every day I get closer to opening a box and this post gave some practical and realistic 1st steps. Thank you! Peace, Parsley and Unicorns! 🙂

  6. Teresa says:

    Kris,
    Thank you for the Dream Planner. I’ve been trying to do a vision board, and I can’t seem to get my head around it. I’m thinking this planner might just do the trick! I think you are a funny & amazing gal.
    Love & Light to you

  7. Beril says:

    Thank you Kris. Such a lovely support I received from your post today <3 Much Love <3

  8. Azeneth says:

    Kris you are amazing!. Thank you so much for sharing and helping us to reach our dreams. xo

  9. Jenni says:

    This is so helpful! I’ve been holding onto a dream of writing for soooo long and waiting…for what exactly?! I don’t know! For the voices in my head telling me I’m not enough to quiet down, I guess. But this is super helpful- to make a plan, put it out there and just keep going. I will post a new blog today in good faith 🙂
    Thanks for your inspiration!

  10. Cindy says:

    Last year our business fell apart. After nearly 10 years with the same partners, my hubby and I had a dream for the business they were not comfortable following.

    8 months later we are living that dream. We took huge risks to go it alone, not to mention lots of opposition from them along the way.

    It’s amazing, every time we stepped out of our comfort zone, opportunities presented themselves. It was miraculous!

    Now Hubby and I have this great business. Just the two of us. No nay-sayers. It’s fantastic!

  11. JerseyGirl says:

    I was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and fell apart. Finding you and reading your story helped me sooo much because you GET it. The fact that you live with your Cancer, you thrive with your Cancer, gives me hope. I am one of the lucky ones who is in remission. I am determined not to waste the rest of my life bogged down by stuff, people and an attitude that drag me down. You are my role model. Love your emails, love this blog. I know what I want to do, and it isn’t anything tremendous: live with love and appreciation for the good things/people in my life; write my book, it doesn’t have to get published, I just want to leave it for my peeps; travel — I’ve already started to do that. You have prompted me to do what works: write it down and get a plan, duh!!! Thanks for being an inspiration to all of us to be the most we can be.

  12. maria says:

    Hi Kris,
    Thanks for sharing… My dream, which I have done to what you write about, have been waiting for 9 years for my true love!!

  13. Cindy says:

    First of all I love all your amazing work and enthusiasm, you are a true inspiration to many of us! In regards to your business training idea: Your mail came at a perfect time, just finished browsing for some job opportunities as a garden designer, of course all full time. So keep dreaming of a day my kids are older…, at the moment I run my own garden design firm, it is very seasonal and unpredictable and it is just ME! Love my job, but find it difficult to stay positive since it is so seasonal I would like to be more productive throughout the year (that is why I am looking for job opportunities….) My main stress as most entrepreneurs is marketing myself and find new clients (I offer seasonal guidance for property management too but the house landscapers take over my job and not always know what to do but clients don’t know and call them anyway … so I mainly focus on design ) the creative part and the whole implementation side I enjoy. So can’t wait to hear what you have to say in marketing ourselves and promoting what we do, and keep our morale up! xx

    • Kris Carr says:

      Thanks, Cindy! A couple things came to mind when I read your comment. There are many ways you could expand your business online to keep your work steady and growing all year round. I really think you’d love my Mastermind Business Coaching Group & Marie’s training videos—take advantage of all the free business training this month and see where it takes you. xo!

  14. Pauline says:

    You are a such inspiring and unique person. Thank you so much for helping us to reach our dreams. Lots of love.

  15. Tammy Perry says:

    You and Marie are always so timely with your help, I must be your ICA. 🙂

    This is an excellent exercise to get my dreams out of my head. I think I will do this every morning, to exercise my imagination. One of the blocks I have is dreaming up stuff – after spending most of my life reacting and managing crisis, I find it very difficult to just dream about what I want. I even hide my notes about it so my friends can’t see. I don’t want anyone discouraging me.

  16. Julie says:

    You are an amazing young woman. Thank you for all that you offer and for sharing your loving and authentic voice with all. You are the best. I look forward to your emails. They help to keep my vibrational level up! 🙂

  17. Hello Kris,
    I am a fan of your work (love my well used copy of your cookbook) and I would be interested in your course that’s aligned with Marie Forleo’s B-School. I took B-School last year and will be following along with Marie’s course again this year. My question is, can I still join your course even though I’m a B-School Alumna, not a new student?
    Best regards,
    Marian

  18. Francine says:

    Hi Kris!

    I like your term for these types of awakening opportunities–“spiritual forest fires.” 🙂 I’ve also heard “divine storms” and think both are quite appropriate!

    A few years ago, within 18 months’ time I lost my mom, became the sole survivor of my immediate family at age 31 (my dad had passed years ago and I’m an only child), learned about and took accountability for some unhealthy relationship patterns, lost a handful of close friends, and left a faith community and two jobs during the process. During that time, I also developed some very strange health issues which completely resolved after working with an energy healer at the end of that 18-month period.

    Since then, I’ve learned to let myself love all the space in my life and have focused on me and what I can give back to this world. I did B-school and your Spotlight classes last year and am one business account approval away from beginning to build my own website, starting a blog, and continuing with the process of self-publishing a book with a process for self-reflection and growth. 🙂

    Just wanted to thank you and Marie also for sharing your voices, your stories, and your gifts with the world. The world is so much richer because of them, and my life has certainly been enriched by both of you!

    Best wishes and thank you!
    Francine

  19. Malika says:

    Hehe 🙂 my current passion was born out of intense grief, and how I feel my way through it has been a ladder of satisfaction, helping me, helping others and honouring my friend, I often use your advice Kris, thankyou 🙂 xxx

  20. Stacy says:

    I do the same thing. I don’t want to give up on something so I hold on until it hurts me…it’s a habit I am trying to break so instead of holding onto something out of desperation I follow through with the things aligned with my vibration listening to my intuition.

    Am loving your fb biz group! You are a fountain of knowledge!

    Xoxo

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