Category: dreams

creativity, dreams, luck, success, time, work

Inspired: Every dream needs luck and hard work

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“Luck is being ready for the chance.” Every success I know of took both work and luck. What varies is the proportions of each. And don’t worry about trying to figure out how to calibrate them into the master combination. We can’t engineer it. We only control half of the ingredients. We can work hard. Luck is left to, well, luck. We can prepare to be lucky. I would argue that we must be prepared to recognize and then take full advantage of luck. But we don’t control the timing or the amount of luck we get. We also don’t get to choose the wrapper that our luck dons. It often doesn’t advertise itself. It shows up in the form of someone or something we weren’t looking for. That’s how luck rolls – to its own drummer and in its choice of costume.

So what can we do?

1.) I work harder than I need to. Often times my lucky breaks don’t require even half the work I put into them. I’m an over-preparer and I’ve made my peace with that because over-preparation gives me both confidence and wiggle room. And if by chance I fall short a bit short on the luck component, I can make up for it with extra work.

2.) I turn over every rock. I get a new client. I get a new writing gig. I meet a new person interested in my work. I keep going. I don’t stop when I get a modicum of success. I appreciate it and make the most of it, and I keep digging for more. Luck runs and out and we can replenish our supply if we keep going.

3.) I see everything as an opportunity. Everything. A trip to the grocery store. A walk with Phin. An article I read. Someone who shares something I do online. Every little thing has some element of magic. I never lose sight of that. And I try to be that source for someone else. I like to connect people. I like to tell them what I’m doing in the hopes that it helps them do something, too. Opportunity isn’t a linear path. It’s a circle and it goes round and round as long as we choose to keep it going.

Keep showing up. Keep working hard. Keep reaching. Don’t worry about searching for luck. It will find you when it’s good and ready.

dreams, encouragement, work, writing

Beautiful: Discover the Hidden Pieces of You

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

There is unmapped territory in all of us. This week Facebook is giving you the option to review your biggest moments of the past year. Almost all of mine revolve around writing. I was surprised by this because I didn’t decide to write full-time until the end of the summer. The desire to pursue it was there all along, and I had a lot of support to take it, but it took me most of the year to decide to make the jump. It’s funny how we can so clearly be on a path and not see it until we’re ready.

This reminds me that we don’t always know exactly what our journey is nor where it will lead. Sometimes we can only see what’s immediately in front of us. It takes a while for things to become clear and to increase our visibility down the road to our future. Some of our talents and gifts lie hidden until they’re needed. The only way to find them is to keep living – fully, deeply, and freely. Don’t worry about how you’re going to get somewhere or how you’re going to do something. Just decide to figure it out. You’ll learn what you need to learn to make it happen.

dreams, goals, work, writing

Beautiful: Write It Down

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest

“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that is your own self.” ~ Aldous Huxley

It is an act of strength to stay the course, to focus our energy and efforts keenly during times of feast and famine. There are distractions, temptations, and doubts that try to derail us. Don’t let them. Right down your goal as simply as you can. Don’t worry that it’s too big or too difficult or too unlikely. Write it down and post it. Everywhere. You can’t hit a target if you can’t see it.

choices, dreams, fear, hope, opportunity

Beautiful: Choose Hope

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” ~ Nelson Mandela.

When faced with a decision, we need to follow the path paved with what we love. It’s the other choice, the “sensible” one, that’s really dangerous because it leads us away from who we really are and what we really care about. The sensible choice doesn’t take advantage of our talents and passions. It traps us by constructing limitations on our capabilities.

So break through and break out of that construction designed by fear. Focus your attention and energy on the possibility, and not on the contingency plans. You’re brave, smart, and resourceful. If things fall apart, you’ll find a way to adjust and adapt. You’ll have the strength to cross that bridge if and when you need to. If you take a chance on a dream, the dream will take a chance on you. And that’s where the magic happens – when we finally stop worrying about invented fears and take action on the opportunities right in front of us.

clarity, cooking, dreams, Second Step, sleep

Beautiful: Making Bread Overnight and Writing in Dreams

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

Bread making and sleep are magical processes. I put flour, salt, yeast, and water into a bowl in specific proportions, mix them up, cover the dough, and let it sit for 20 hours. When I wake up the next morning, it’s transformed into the perfect sticky consistency because I left it alone. When I need a booster shot of inspiration for my writing, I stuff my brain full of information that relates to what I’m trying to write and then I let my brain work it out while I sleep. Just as the light of day starts to filter into my apartment, the words I need start to filter right into my mind as I’m half-awake. I grab my pen and paper to get it all down.

The trick is to give your work what it needs and then walk away. Get the right ingredients into the right environment to work together. Arm yourself with data and information that your brain can sift and mesh together. The process is about you, and it’s also about you getting out-of-the-way. There’s a little mystery in creativity, a little magic inside each of us. There’s a time to work and a time to give up, and we need to do both to come up with something that’s inspired and inspiring.

choices, decision-making, dreams, faith

Beautiful: Have Faith in You

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

We are so much more talented than we let ourselves believe. Somewhere along the way we were told to not think too much of ourselves or the value we bring to the people, places, and causes that consume our time. We were told to feel lucky for every opportunity that comes our way rather than recognizing that we make our own opportunities. Someone convinced us to keep our heads down and follow the path as determined by others.

In the past few days, I’ve had several conversations with friends who don’t realize just how amazing they are. They’re worried about making bold moves as if they don’t have a right to them. They’re cautious about standing up for themselves and the gifts they bring to the places they work. They don’t see what I see – that they deserve everything they want and then some because they worked hard to get where they are.

Have faith, in yourself, in your process, in your path. You are meant to do great things with your great life. We get what we settle for, so only settle for what you really want.

dreams, inspiration, passion

Beautiful: Remember Why You Started

Christa Avampato

Sometimes things don’t go according to plan. For some of us it might seem like things never go according to plan. Here’s what I’ve learned: a project has a life of its own. It does a dance between bending to our will and flying off the track at its own accord. That’s just the nature of work, of life. What we can do is stay true to ourselves. We can remember why we started the project in the first place and keep our eye on that mission as our guide. It’s our True North.

My friend, Michael, has told me many times that we must begin as we wish to go. In the beginning, we have a focus, a goal, and a reason for putting our energy and time into a dream. In the beginning, our intent is at its purest state. We have to hang onto that. There will be distractions along any path. People’s opinions will sway us. Our experience with the project may cloud our vision over time. We can reset and center ourselves by going back to the beginning, by remembering and honoring the intention that started us on our journey. That is where we must look for continued inspiration, for hope, for strength. It’s all in the seed, always.

So if you find yourself frustrated, tired, disappointed, or confused, don’t despair. Allow the clarity of your beginning dream to be the force that drives your forward.

change, dreams, Second Step

Beautiful: Small Steps

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

I’m all for big leaps. Big, daring gestures that signal a new beginning. I’m also a fan of small steps, those tiny changes we make in our day-to-day that add up over time through dedication and hard work. Tiny steps can be frustrating. We want so much to move forward quickly and efficiently. When we’re ready for change we want it right here, right now in a big way that we can feel and others can see. However, there is so much beauty, so much learning in those tiny steps. They are no less worthy and deserve every bit as much celebration as the big ones. They pave the way, too. So don’t wait and save yourself for the opportunity to take a big step. If you can take a small one today, then do it. It’s still progress. It still has value and meaning. It helps prepare us for the big step that eventually we will be able to make.

dreams, Second Step

Beautiful: Why Not You?

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

We focus too much on obstacles. We think about all the competition, how difficult it is to do the things we want to do. Here’s what I know: it’s all hard. Everything has its challenges. There isn’t a single dream out there that lacks its fair share of stumbling blocks. Challenges show us just how much we really want something. Do we give up at the first sign of difficulty or do we find another way around, over, and through anything that blocks our path? Challenges reveal our dedication. They test us. And in the end they save us time by giving us new skills, renewed strength, and the knowledge of whether or not this is a dream that’s worth chasing down. When you think about your dreams, stop asking yourself, “Why me? Why should I be able to do this?” and starting saying, “Why not me? Why shouldn’t I have every dream I’m willing to work for?” Pretty soon, it won’t be a question of if. Only a question of when.

adventure, dreams, Second Step

Beautiful: Stop Waiting and Build

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest
From Pinterest

You might think you need a class, or a degree, or more experience, time, or money. Maybe you do. Or maybe too many people have questioned your ideas and your dreams and that’s worn you out. Maybe the doubt demons rally every time you start to think it might be time to take a chance. If I had to place a bet, I’d say you’re abundantly ready to make your move. You have what you need, and most importantly, you have heart. And passion. And ambition. You can learn the rest as you go, and there will be a lot to learn but that’s part of the fun. And the adventure. You can’t continue to bury dreams. You can’t settle for being less than you know you can be. You have to rise up. Take a chance. Let go. And see where the path leads. Put one foot in front of the other. Take it step by step. Day by day. Before you know it, you’ll be running. Then flying. Then taking others along with you. You’ve got what it takes. Now go show the world. Go do. Be. Build.