I don't think it's possible to dream to big, but at the same time that big dream has to have all the ducks line up in a row and realize it might takes years to happen. My dream is to go to USDAA nationals. Right now it's on the wrong coast, way to long for a teacher to take off for and to expensive. When it was here, one dog was to old and one dog to young and inexperienced. So, is that still on the radar, yes, and am I still working towards it, yes, but when will it become a reality, will it ever happen... don't know.
I think one of the hard parts about having big dreams of winning a big event in agility is that you have to have the right dog to do it. Kinda has to be a perfect storm of the right opportunities and the right dog all at the right time.
Another thing about dreaming to win a big event is that that does not 100% depend on your performance. Even if you do your absolute best, someone else could have done a bit better. I would say a good way to put things is that you can dream to win a big event but you can aspire to perform your absolute best there.
I totally agree and in my dream to go to USDAA Nationals is not necessarily to win, but to go and do my best and see where we land. I think if we pin all of our hopes on winning it could be a huge let down if you don't get the blue and that's somewhat unrealistic.
I agree with barjor and agilityfrk that you have to enjoy the process too, otherwise why do it if you're miserable.
I think that making sure goals remain realistic is to continually evaluate them and verify that there are comprised of logic and attainable steps. I think as long as you can go to point a to point b to point c .....to point z, you have made a good goal.
I think turning dreams into aspiration is the same thing. A dream to me is what we think about when we have arrived at someplace (Winning Nationals, Being on World Team), but aspirations involve the steps that get us there. I think that dreams are vitally important to make us WANT to achieve something but doesn't explain the process, the journey. And in order to achieve the dream, the journey is vitally important.
I like that explanation a lot, now if only it was that easy (for me) to actually have a clear set of goals to try to get somewhere. It seems so difficult!
First, I don't think it's possible to dream too big, I do think it's possible to not recognize what is needed for those dreams to happen. I agree with Barjor that aspirations are the steps to achieving dreams. I need to know what is needed for the dream to happen, then aspire to have the skills and consistency needed. If I'm dreaming of something lots of other people also want, then I have to accept there is some luck involved. Actually, I guess there is something about dreaming too big and that would be if you stop having fun on the journey. No point in dreaming of something, if you aren't going to enjoy the road there. :-)
Fun is definitely important but I think its hard to balance a difficult goal with having a lot of fun. It should be enjoyable but I'm sure there are going to be moments that are downright difficult, but I also think working through moments like that and still wanting to achieve your goal can be a valuable lesson. But if you NEVER have fun, you probably need to reevaluate!
I'm having the hardest time with goals/dreams/aspirations right now. I've been sitting at the computer for hours trying to write down what I want to do and how to get there. All I've done is come up with a big list of "well I'd like to do that" spanning years into the future with no steps getting there. Man this is hard!
An aspiration is a dream you are actually attempting to achieve. I would say 99.9% of people never even attempt to achieve their dreams, or are even quite sure what it is they would want. Goals (the measurable ones, anyway) usually won't happen unless you have a clear plan about what steps are required and actually putting in the work to get there. Then there is determination, not quitting when things don't go as planned.
I think I'm kind of afraid of actually going after my dreams both because of fear of failure as well as feeling as though "dreaming big" will make it seem like I think I'm superior to everyone around me. Which is ridiculous.
Dream big! Dreams are never too big. To turn them aspirations, start looking at the actions you need to take to achieve them. Start with small steps and appreciate all the progress you make. Even if it doesn't seem big, every little bit adds up and the small things will gradually lead to bigger things until you finally reach your goal. When things seem like they are not working out, it just isn't the right time or the right opportunity. Don't get impatient. When the time is right, it will all come together (as I am learning).
Following your blog over the last couple of years has definitely been inspiring, you never gave up and things are really coming together for you at the right time! Congrats by the way!
Some dreams really aren't attainable. ie; if your dream is to make it onto World Team with a Basset Hound, you are bound for disappointment. I think you have to be able to evaluate for yourself if your dream is attainable, though. There are things that just aren't possible, but there are other things which people might believe impossible, but really can happen.
I think once you can focus on what you want to accomplish, you can take a realistic look at whether it can ever happen, then you can make a plan for how to get there.
I think the hardest part is telling what is attainable and what isn't. I have a lot of "dreams" but I don't know how many of them are/can be aspirations at this point. However I can now say that my dream of going to WTT (which I did think was impossible) is now a full fledged aspiration! Now beyond that I just don't know.
Well, I think if it's something you really want, it's better to aspire to something impossible than to just assume that there is no point, and give up. Assuming that you're not going to surrender to a fit of despondency and throw yourself off a building if you don't achieve your aspiration, it's better to at least TRY.
I think you have to decide what it is important to you to accomplish (or at least try to accomplish), and what you might have to give up in the effort. Decide if it is worth it to you. Then set your plan, and go for it.
I'll use me & Tess as an example (because I'm proud of us, and because I think it's a good example). I decided that I wanted to take her to WTT because it would be fun, and because I wanted to prove that a Stafford could qualify for that. There are probably people who would have doubted that 2nd part, so that's an example of something that I could have been led to believe was impossible.
I knew I'd have to trial more heavily than usual to meet the qualifications. This involved a sacrifice of money, which meant I'd have to cut back later. I also knew that her intactness was likely to be a hassle, and ultimately, I decided that to meet my goal, I would give up the chance at breeding her again. I made the decision along the way that even if I lost my job, I was going to scrape up my last cent and go to this thing because it was what I'd been pushing for.
I think if you're going to achieve an aspiration, you do have to be somewhat single-minded about it. So probably best not to set too many at one time, unless they are steps along the way to a bigger aspiration. But in that case, keep most of your focus on the step immediately before you.
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I think one of the hard parts about having big dreams of winning a big event in agility is that you have to have the right dog to do it. Kinda has to be a perfect storm of the right opportunities and the right dog all at the right time.
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I agree with barjor and agilityfrk that you have to enjoy the process too, otherwise why do it if you're miserable.
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I think that making sure goals remain realistic is to continually evaluate them and verify that there are comprised of logic and attainable steps. I think as long as you can go to point a to point b to point c .....to point z, you have made a good goal.
I think turning dreams into aspiration is the same thing. A dream to me is what we think about when we have arrived at someplace (Winning Nationals, Being on World Team), but aspirations involve the steps that get us there. I think that dreams are vitally important to make us WANT to achieve something but doesn't explain the process, the journey. And in order to achieve the dream, the journey is vitally important.
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I'm having the hardest time with goals/dreams/aspirations right now. I've been sitting at the computer for hours trying to write down what I want to do and how to get there. All I've done is come up with a big list of "well I'd like to do that" spanning years into the future with no steps getting there. Man this is hard!
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Yeah, just dreaming is a lot easier!
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I think once you can focus on what you want to accomplish, you can take a realistic look at whether it can ever happen, then you can make a plan for how to get there.
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I think you have to decide what it is important to you to accomplish (or at least try to accomplish), and what you might have to give up in the effort. Decide if it is worth it to you. Then set your plan, and go for it.
I'll use me & Tess as an example (because I'm proud of us, and because I think it's a good example). I decided that I wanted to take her to WTT because it would be fun, and because I wanted to prove that a Stafford could qualify for that. There are probably people who would have doubted that 2nd part, so that's an example of something that I could have been led to believe was impossible.
I knew I'd have to trial more heavily than usual to meet the qualifications. This involved a sacrifice of money, which meant I'd have to cut back later. I also knew that her intactness was likely to be a hassle, and ultimately, I decided that to meet my goal, I would give up the chance at breeding her again. I made the decision along the way that even if I lost my job, I was going to scrape up my last cent and go to this thing because it was what I'd been pushing for.
I think if you're going to achieve an aspiration, you do have to be somewhat single-minded about it. So probably best not to set too many at one time, unless they are steps along the way to a bigger aspiration. But in that case, keep most of your focus on the step immediately before you.